Latvia Detects Listeria monocytogenes in 5 of 5 Samples of Frozen Skinless Salmon Fillet Pieces of Norwegian Origin

The European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) validated on October 21, 2026 alert notification 2026.9350, sent by Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service, over the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen skinless salmon fillet pieces. The fish is of Norwegian origin and the finding occurred in an official control on the market. The notification classifies the risk as potentially serious.

According to the record, the samples were taken on October 7 and the bacterium was detected in 25 grams in all 5 units analyzed. The notification lists Latvia and Denmark as countries of distribution and of the operators involved, and Norway is listed as the country of origin, with a request for follow-up. The recorded distribution status is "product not yet placed on the market", and for Denmark the measure "no action taken" is recorded. On October 26, the Danish authority added information on the outcome of its investigations and the measures taken. The public record does not report cases of illness or detail batches or formats.

Listeria monocytogenes is a common contaminant in fish processing plants: it settles on filleting equipment, belts and drains, and from there passes to the product. Freezing stops its multiplication, but does not eliminate it, so the bacterium is still alive when the fish is thawed. In salmon that is cooked thoroughly before eating, cooking controls the risk; this is not the case for uses without heat, such as sushi, tartare or cold smoking, or when thawed fish contaminates cutting boards, knives and ready-to-eat foods. Listeriosis can be severe in pregnant women, newborns, older adults and immunocompromised people, and its incubation can last several weeks.

The fact that all five samples tested positive points to widespread contamination in that consignment rather than an isolated finding. Norway is the world's leading salmon exporter and in this case operators from two EU countries are involved; the finding came from an official control in the destination country, which shows the value of verifying the product on arrival as well. For processors and importers, the case reinforces the verification of each consignment received and environmental monitoring of filleting and portioning rooms. TAAG's Ampliora 2.3 kit detects Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes by real-time PCR in foods and surfaces, and its datasheet includes the fishing and aquaculture industry; frozen salmon is not listed as a specific matrix, so the association is indirect. Presumptive results must be confirmed with the reference method.