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Marutama Co. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Fish Cakes

NEWS RELEASE



Contact:  Marutama Co. 
          213-623-6077

For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA - April 16, 2003 -- Marutama Company of Los Angeles California is recalling several varieties of precooked, ready-to-eat fish cakes because they may contain undeclared egg. These may be frozen or refrigerated. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

These fish cakes were distributed to supermarkets in the states of California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado..

The products under recall include those with the expiration date of 4/18/2003 through 5/19/2003. They may be sold frozen or refrigerated in vacuum packed plastic packaging with stick-on labels. These are fully cooked, ready-to-eat products.

They include those packaged in 5 or 6 ounce packages as follows:

Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake
Jalapeno Tenpura , Spicy Fried Fish Cake
Chashu-Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake with Sweet Pork-Hawaiian Style
Ebi-Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake with Shrimp
Bobo-Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake with Burdock Root-Hawaiian Style
Chinese Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake with Chinese Vegetables
Vege-Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake with green beans, peas, carrots and onions
Kamaboko, Steamed Fish Cake
Boardless Kamboko, Steamed Fish Cake.

Also under recall are the following products which are not packaged in 5 or 6 ounce packages:

Bulk Tenpura, Fried Fish Cake, sold in various package sizes by weight
Chikuwa, Broiled Fish Cake, sold in 4 ounce packages
Mini Oden PAC with Soup Base, Various Fish Cakes sold in 9 ounce packages.

To date no illnesses or injuries have been reported.

Recall was initiated during an inspection by Food and Drug Administration officials when it was discovered that a bulk fish raw material was used which contained egg. Firm officials failed to include the ingredient in the finished product labeling.

Consumers who have purchased the Marutama brand fish cakes mentioned above are urged to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (213) 623-6077.

FDA/Website Management Staff
Web page created by tg 2003-APR-17.