Suspect salmon

Press, 18 May 1982, Page 3

Suspect salmon

Defective cans of Canadian salmon have sparked off another botulism scare in New Zealand. The Health Department yesterday warned that 220 g tins (similar to those pictured) of salmon should be checked before being eaten. Further shipments of Canadian salmon are being held until cleared by the Canadian Government. The Christchurch Medical Officer of Health, Dr W. A. Malpress, said that the main worry was imperfect seals on certain brands, some of which have been found in Christchurch, Timaru, and Invercargill. The risk of contamination was remote but wholesalers

were withholding shipments and department staff were “working flat out” encouraging retailers not to sell stock which had not been checked. Householders should also take similar precautions. Four brand names, Streamline, Waveline, ABC and Gold Crown, were on the suspect list but Dr Malpress said that the can code embossed on to the lids was the only accurate means of identification as most cans carried the New Zealand importer’s label. The suspect cans had a vertical stroke similar to an “I,” or a pennant flag symbol in the second, fourth or fifth position of the top code line, or embossed on a separate line, as nictured.