If in doubt about the safety of a vacuum packaged product, do not eat the food. After opening vacuum packages, store the smoked seafood in the refrigerator. Smoked seafood is vacuum packaged in the retort pouch. Clostridium botulinum , other illness-causing bacteria, and spoilage bacteria. Store retort pouches at room temperature with other canned foods.
Refrigeration is optional.
Retort pouches consist of several layers of materials. The layers may be clear or opaque plastic, or one of the layers may be aluminum or gold-colored foil. The materials for the top and the bottom of the pouch may be the same or different. Smoked seafood in retort pouches should appear fresh and moist. Reject pouches with pinholes, punctures, leakage or swelling.