Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Klong Kone Shrimp Paste recall: Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead

Recall published 10 months ago

Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead

Klong Kone Seafood — recalled seafoodKlong Kone Seafood — recalled seafood (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Lead or heavy metal content

The recall is about heavy metal content exceeding what U.S. law allows in a product children handle.

What the notice says: It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure.

Why it matters: The product exceeds the federal limit on lead or another heavy metal. Lead harms the developing brain, and the damage builds quietly from small repeated exposures rather than arriving as a single dramatic poisoning.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC states there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood, and that most children with elevated levels show no symptoms at all. That is why a blood lead test, not a symptom check, is the way to find out. Ask your paediatrician about testing if a child has handled, mouthed or worn the product regularly. Where symptoms do appear they are non-specific — irritability, poor appetite, stomach pain, tiredness, constipation or a drop in attention and learning.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
January 8, 2026
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Klong Kone
Product type
Seafood
Distribution
Iowa, New Jersey
UPC codes
8853142000313, 8853142000320

Products covered by this recall

Klong Kone Shrimp Paste

What the company announced

Gusto Group Inc. of Paterson, NJ is recalling [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) '454 G. (1 LBS)' and ‘910 G. (2 LBS)’ because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.

Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure. Additional signs and symptoms of lead exposure are more likely with acute exposure to higher levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead. While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount and duration of lead exposure and age/ body weight. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems. For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects.

The recalled product was directly distributed to the two retailers listed below, located IA and NJ , between April 2023 to December 2023 There were no online sales.

1.Golden Land (Des Moines)

2740 Douglas Ave

Des Moines IA 50310

Tel: 515-468-8224

2.Terri Lee Oriental Groceries.

225 Maywood Ave.

Maywood NJ 07607

Tel: 201-843-7919

The recalled [Klong Kone] Shimp Paste (Klong Kone) “454 G. (1 LBS)” and “910 G. (2 LBS),” is packaged in a white plastic jar with a red cap. The product is a dark-colored paste with a salty flavor. The product was Packed and Distributed By: P. Prateepthong 2000, Product of Thailand.

The recalled product was sold in two sizes:

[Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) '454 G. (1 LBS)' , with UPC: 8853142000313, Product Code: DPA159

[Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) '910 G. (2 LBS)' , with UPC: 8853142000320, Product Code: DPA161

To date, there has been one report of four children becoming ill, which involved diarrhea and elevated blood levels. This recall was initiated following this report of illness associated with consumption of the product. The FDA collected product samples from retail locations and lab analysis found that the finished products contained elevated levels of lead. The company has ceased distribution of this lot. The company is currently investigating the cause of the issue.

Consumer Information:

Consumers who purchased the recalled [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. For any questions, please contact the company at (862) 264-6774 or via email at [email protected] . Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 6 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 8853142000313
  • 8853142000320

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • DPA159
  • DPA161

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 1 LBS
  • 2 LBS

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Lead

Klong Kone — The recall is about heavy metal content exceeding what U.S. law allows in a product children handle.

  1. Take the product away from children and stop using it — do not keep it for decoration where a child can reach it.
  2. Follow the remedy on this page — lead recalls almost always carry a full refund.
  3. Wash the hands of anyone who has been handling it, and wipe down the surfaces it has been sitting on.
  4. Ask your paediatrician whether a blood lead test is warranted, especially for a child under six or anyone pregnant.

If the claim stalls

Most recall claims are paid without argument. The ones that stall usually stall for a reason you can fix.

  • Check you used the recall channel rather than ordinary customer support — the two queues rarely talk to each other.
  • If the company is unresponsive or has stopped trading, report it to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, and try the retailer in parallel.
  • Paid by card? A chargeback for goods that are unfit for sale is a legitimate fallback once the company has had a fair chance.
  • Send the photos they asked for in the format they asked for. A missing date code is the single commonest reason a claim sits unprocessed.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who purchased the recalled [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Gusto Group Inc. — Consumers: (862) 264-6774, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Klong Kone seafood recalled?

Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 8853142000313, 8853142000320; model number DPA159, DPA161. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Take the product away from children and stop using it — do not keep it for decoration where a child can reach it.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who purchased the recalled [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Iowa, New Jersey.

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