Sometimes, items come across my drug and food safety feed that I just can't ignore.
The FDA announced that a Brooklyn-based food importer is recalling a product called Uneviscerated Dried Roach (Vobla).
In this case, roach is not an insect. Scientifically, it's a fish known as Rutilus rutilus caspicus - a member of the carp family that lives in fresh and brackish water in Europe. Typical of some eastern European foods, the fish is salted and sun-dried.
This is clearly something I'm sure my late father and grandparents ate with great enthusiasm.
The problem with this particular product is that the viscera - the soft organs of the abdomen and thorax - were not removed prior to drying. The product is therefore prohibited in New York State due to the risk of botulism, a rather serious foodborne illness.
Clostridium botulinum spores tend to concentrate in the viscera and their botulinum toxin can cause blurred or double vision, general weakness, and poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis. But no illnesses have been reported in association with this product.
I have to admit that my mouth was watering when I viewed the website of the wholesaler, S&S Food Import Corp. They carry a variety of Lithuanian breads, dairy products, and pasta. But I couldn't find the fish product there.
A woman answering the phone at S&S told us that all stock is being destroyed today, as will any product returned to them by their customers nationwide. She said that they generally don't carry fish but the figured that the Lithuanian product might be of interest to their customers.
"Fish was just a side product that was tried, but it didn't go," she said.
Indeed.
In any case, if you or a family member is a fan of eastern European food, check to see if you have any of the product called Uneviscerated Dried Roach (Vobla) with a "best before" date of 06.05.2014 (May 6, 2015). It was shipped to stores in 5 kg boxes.
The specific product being recalled by S&S Food Import Corp., "Best before: 06.05.2015." Credit: FDA
The full FDA announcement is here.
My Dad and grandparents would've loved this stuff all the same.
