Results from voluntary independent food safety testing

Hilo, Hawaii – Hawaii seafood importer and distributor, Hilo Fish Company Inc., today announced that the company conducted voluntary independent food safety testing beyond FDA standards and recalled frozen imported fish containing the hepatitis A virus.

The voluntary recall was for shipments of frozen imported 8oz yellowfin tuna steaks from Vietnam in October 2016 and yellowfin tuna cubes from the Philippines in March 2017.

Hilo Fish Company traced the products from its suppliers to its customers in California and Texas and informed them immediately. There was a total of 70 cases containing 700 pounds of 8oz yellowfin tuna steaks and 188 cases containing 2820 pounds of yellow fin tuna cubes distributed between both states. To date there has not been any reported cases of the virus linked to these shipments.

“Food safety is at the core of our business and we take extra precautions above and beyond what is required to ensure our customers and the public receive the very best and freshest product,” said Kerry Umamoto, President and Chief Operating Officer of Hilo Fish Company.

“I wish to personally apologize to our customers and in turn, their customers, and reassure them that we are doing all we can to ensure this does not happen again,” said Umamoto.

Hilo Fish Company has been in close contact with the manufacturers where the frozen fish was imported who have since modified their food safety procedures. All relevant government agencies have been notified and informed of the steps the company has taken during the voluntary recall process.