Food/Recall·FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts

Terra Medi LLC Recalls Karagounis Bros – Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring Due to Improper Evisceration

HighPublished May 13, 2026· AI-analyzed May 14, 2026View original FDA source
AI-generated regulatory interpretation. The four sections below are an analyst-style summary produced by an AI model from the original FDA source. Always verify against the source before any regulatory, clinical, or commercial decision.
What happened

Terra Medi LLC has initiated a recall for all imported Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring due to improper evisceration. The product was vacuum-packaged and found to be in violation of New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations regarding uneviscerated fish.

Who it affects

This recall affects Terra Medi LLC, distributors of Karagounis Bros products, NY-based food retailers, and food safety compliance officers overseeing imported seafood.

Why it matters

The failure to properly eviscerate fish prior to vacuum packaging poses a critical safety risk related to Clostridium botulinum. This enforcement action highlights the rigorous intersection of state regulations and federal food safety oversight for imported goods. Regulatory teams should note that adherence to processing standards in the country of origin may not satisfy domestic safety requirements for vacuum-sealed anaerobic environments.

Practical takeaway

Immediately quarantine any remaining inventory of vacuum-packaged whole herring processed by this manufacturer. Verify that all imported seafood products meet domestic evisceration standards prior to distribution, particularly for vacuum-packaged goods where anaerobic conditions exist. Review supplier quality agreements to ensure international partners adhere to specific regional food safety regulations.

FDA source material

Terra Medi LLC of Long Island City, NY is recalling all of the imported Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole herring vacuum packaged because of improper evisceration of the fish. The sale of uneviscerated fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulation because Clostridium Botul

Open in openFDA / FDA.gov
AI-generated interpretation. Always verify critical decisions against the original FDA source. Generated with google/gemini-3-flash-preview.