The Burren Smokehouse is an Irish family-run producer of smoked fish.
The company was established in 1989, on Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, by Peter and Birgitta Curtin. The smokehouse started with the smoking and curing of salmon and later branched out into mackerel, trout and eel. Cheese was also added. [1] According to Good Food Ireland, it is a "highly acclaimed, award winning traditional smokehouse". [2]
The company also runs a visitor centre, and it is one of the organizers and participants of the yearly Burren Slow Food Festival.[ citation needed ]
The Smokehouse has won several awards and certifications for his products. Amongst others, they have won: [3]
The Burren Smokehouse was one of the suppliers of the State Banquet during the visit of Elizabeth II to Ireland. [4]
In March 2011 the Smokehouse had to recall a batch of smoked salmon, due to the presence of low levels of Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was a precautionary measure. [5] In March 2020, February 2022 and June 2024, the same happened. [6] [7] [8]
Smoked salmon is a preparation of salmon, typically a fillet that has been cured and hot or cold smoked.
Listeria monocytogenes is the species of pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis. It is a facultative anaerobic bacterium, capable of surviving in the presence or absence of oxygen. It can grow and reproduce inside the host's cells and is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens: 20 to 30% of foodborne listeriosis infections in high-risk individuals may be fatal. In the European Union, listeriosis follows an upward trend that began in 2008, causing 2,161 confirmed cases and 210 reported deaths in 2014, 16% more than in 2013. Listeriosis mortality rates are also higher in the EU than for other foodborne pathogens. Responsible for an estimated 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths in the United States annually, listeriosis ranks third in total number of deaths among foodborne bacterial pathogens, with fatality rates exceeding even Salmonella spp. and Clostridium botulinum.
Cahercommaun, sometimes Cahercommane, is a triple stone ringfort on the south-east edge of the Burren area, in Kilnaboy, near the rural village of Carran, in County Clare, Ireland. It was built in the 9th century.
Dole plc is an Irish-American agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company is among the world's largest producers of fruit and vegetables, operating with 38,500 full-time and seasonal employees who supply some 300 products in 75 countries. Dole reported 2021 revenues of $6.5 billion.
Listeria is a genus of bacteria that acts as an intracellular parasite in mammals. Until 1992, 10 species were known, each containing two subspecies. By 2024, 28 species had been identified. The genus is named in honour of the British pioneer of sterile surgery Joseph Lister. Listeria species are Gram-positive, rod-shaped, and facultatively anaerobic, and do not produce endospores. The major human pathogen in the genus Listeria is L. monocytogenes. It is usually the causative agent of the relatively rare bacterial disease listeriosis, an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Listeriosis can cause serious illness in pregnant women, newborns, adults with weakened immune systems and the elderly, and may cause gastroenteritis in others who have been severely infected.
Listeriosis is a bacterial infection most commonly caused by Listeria monocytogenes, although L. ivanovii and L. grayi have been reported in certain cases. Listeriosis can cause severe illness, including severe sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis, sometimes resulting in lifelong harm and even death. Those at risk of severe illness are the elderly, fetuses, newborns and those who are immunocompromised. In pregnant women it may cause stillbirth or spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth is common. Listeriosis may cause mild, self-limiting gastroenteritis and fever in anyone.
A product recall is a request from a manufacturer to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects that might endanger the consumer or put the maker/seller at risk of legal action.
Smoked fish is fish that has been cured by smoking. Foods have been smoked by humans throughout history. Originally this was done as a preservative. In more recent times fish is readily preserved by refrigeration and freezing and the smoking of fish is generally done for the unique taste and flavour imparted by the smoking process.
Doolin Cave is a limestone cave near Doolin in County Clare, Ireland, on the western edge of The Burren. The name is the anglicised version of the Irish name Poll an Eidhneáin, which is said to translate into "Ivy Cliff Cave". The cave attracted some controversy due to its development and marketing as a show cave in the early 21st century. It is now open to the public, branded as Doolin Cave.
Sabra Dipping Company, LLC is a U.S.-based company which produces Middle Eastern-style and other food products, including hummus and guacamole. It is co-owned by PepsiCo and the Strauss Group. All Sabra products are certified kosher and vegetarian, and are available throughout the U.S. and Canada. As of 2016, the company held a 60% market share for hummus sales in the United States, and was forecast to exceed $1 billion in sales in 2017.
Burren Gold is a Gouda style Irish cheese made from pasteurised cows milk. The cheese is made at the Aillwee Cave in Ballyvaughan in County Clare and the rounds are waxed by hand. The cheese is available in a number of flavours: Plain, Cumin, Nettles and Garlic, Black Pepper, Piri Piri and Smoked.
The 2011 United States listeriosis outbreak was a widespread outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning across 28 US states that resulted from contaminated cantaloupes linked to Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado. As of the final report on August 27, 2012, there were 33 deaths and 147 total confirmed cases since the beginning of the first recorded case on July 31, 2011. It was the worst foodborne illness outbreak in the United States, measured by the number of deaths, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking outbreaks in the 1970s, or tied with the worst, an outbreak of listeria from cheese in 1985, depending on which CDC report is used.
The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark is an internationally designated area of geological interest in The Burren region of County Clare, Ireland. It is the third Geopark to be designated in Ireland, and is recognised at both European and global levels.
Listeria virus P100 is a virus of the family Herelleviridae, genus Pecentumvirus.
Clare Island Salmon is a variety of Atlantic salmon which was granted Protected Geographical Indication status under European Union law in 1999. Clare Island is in County Mayo in Ireland.
The 2017–2018 South African listeriosis outbreak, also know as Listeriosis Histeriosis, was a widespread outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning that resulted from contaminated processed meats produced by Enterprise Foods, a subsidiary of Tiger Brands, in Polokwane. There were 1,060 confirmed cases of listeriosis during the outbreak, and about 216 deaths. It is the world's deadliest listeriosis outbreak.
Ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE) is a food preservative, antimicrobial compound, and drug more commonly known as E243. It is used to treat dermatological disorders and is often provided in the form of its hydrochloride salt. LAE is an amino acid-based surfactant with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, high biodegradability and low toxicity. Due to these features, LAE is a preservative used in food and cosmetic formulations.
The 2008–2009 Chilelisteriosis outbreak was an epidemic outbreak of listeriosis in that country, caused by the species Listeria monocytogenes, which spread mainly through foods of animal origin, such as cecina, sausages, cheese and other dairy products. As of August 2009, 164 cases had been recorded, with a total of 16 deaths, among whom different strains of the bacterium were detected.