An urgent health warning has been issued over the risks of eating smoked salmon and other cured fish as the Christmas period approaches.
The Food Standards Agency (FDA) and Foods Standards Scotland (FSS) are advising pregnant women and anybody with a weakened immune system to avoid the foods due to the risk from listeria bacteria.
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a rare but potentially severe foodborne illness that can have serious health consequences for pregnant women – possibly leading to miscarriage or stillbirth – those with a weakened immune system, and older adults.
The FSA said the guidance is being issued afresh this year due to the risk of serious illness from the bacteria increasing with age.
The Christmas period sees people increasingly likely to eat cured fish, including smoked salmon, smoked trout and gravlax, the FSA said.
Its advice to avoid consuming cold-smoked and cured fish applies to pregnant woman and people with weakened immune systems – including those with underlying health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, liver and kidney disease, or people on certain medications.
Cold-smoked fish is usually just marked as ‘smoked’ in supermarkets and typically comes packed in slices.
The FSA said that once cooked, the smoked fish can be consumed safely by all.
And smoked fish products that have been heat-treated during production, such as tinned smoked fish, may be safely consumed without further cooking.
Linden Jack, Head of Food, Feed and Incidents Policy Unit at the FSA said: ‘We understand that smoked fish is a popular choice during the festive season, and for many, with the proper precautions, it can be enjoyed safely.
‘However, we strongly encourage those at higher risk to either avoid cold-smoked fish or first cook it until steaming hot all the way through. This will ensure that any listeria present in the product is killed before it is eaten.
‘While the risk of listeria is generally low for most people, caregivers should avoid serving cold-smoked fish to family and friends who may be more vulnerable to infection if it hasn’t been cooked first.’
Dr Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director Gastrointestinal Infections Food Safety and One Health at the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘While smoked fish has a higher risk of carrying listeria, the overall risk to the population is very low.
‘However, some people are more likely to get a serious infection including those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems. The risk also increases with age.
‘Most people who are affected by listeriosis will have no symptoms or experience mild diarrhoea which subsides in a few days.
‘Those who are more vulnerable can be at risk of severe illness such as meningitis and life-threatening sepsis. Listeriosis in pregnancy can cause very serious illness in mothers and their babies.’
