FDA Warns of Oysters Distributed in More Than 13 States Amid Norovirus Outbreak

Raw Oyster Norovirus Outbreak Overview:

• Who: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning retailers and consumers not to eat certain raw oysters from British Columbia, Canada, amid a norovirus outbreak.
• Why: The food safety authorities say the raw oysters could be contaminated with norovirus.
• Where: Affected oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people to be careful eating raw oysters from restaurants and retailers in 13 different states as it fights a multistate outbreak of norovirus linked to raw oysters.

The warning comes as the FDA and states partner with authorities in Canada, where the affected oysters are from, and conduct a trace-forward investigation to determine where the oysters were distributed and ensure they’re removed from the food supply.

In an Apr. 6 notice, the FDA said the potentially contaminated oysters were harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, and distributed to restaurants and retailers in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Raw Oysters Should Not Be Eaten, Served, FDA Says

Retailers are being advised not to serve raw oysters harvested from harvest locations BC 14-8 and BC 14-15 in British Columbia with harvest starting as early as Jan. 31, 2022, which will be printed on product tags.

“Restaurants and retailers should not sell the potentially affected raw oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or returning to their distributor for destruction,” the FDA notice says, warning that restaurants should also be careful of cross-contamination in kitchens.

Consumers are being advised to be cautious. 

“People should not eat any raw oysters from the locations listed above. If they have any of the listed products, they should throw them in the garbage,” the notice says.

The news comes as three brands of raw oysters are recalled in Canada and the Canadian government battles a foodborne illness outbreak linked to norovirus in raw oysters.

On Mar. 27, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued two new recalls notices for certain Taylor Shellfish and Pacific Rim Shellfish oysters due to possible norovirus contamination after an earlier notice in which Raw BC recalled a batch of its raw oysters earlier this month due to possible norovirus contamination.

Contaminated Oysters May Look, Smell Normal, FDA Warns

Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell and taste normal, the FDA said.

It said people of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus, and the most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache and body ache.

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus, the FDA said. 

Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; however, children younger than age 5, the elderly and those people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

Will you be taking a break from raw oysters while the situation is cleared? Let us know in the comments!

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