FDA Advises Not to Serve or Sell and Not to Eat Certain Oysters from British Columbia, Canada, Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Audience

• Restaurants and food retailers in Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), District of Columbia (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Illinois (IL), Kentucky (KY), Missouri (MO), Nevada (NV), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), and Pennsylvania (PA) that have recently purchased oysters that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from British Columbia (BC), Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, Landfiles (LF) # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854.
• Consumers in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MO, NC, NV, NJ, NY, and PA who have recently consumed oysters that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from BC, Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, Landfiles (LF) # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854.

Product

The implicated products include oysters sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi oysters that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from BC, Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, LF # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854, Canada. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MO, NC, NV, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed to other states, as well.

Identification can be made by the following information printed on the shellfish tag:

Original Harvester/Producer: Pacific Northwest Shellfish and Union Bay Seafood
Cert. Numbers: BC 740 SP and BC 6001 SP Dates of Harvest: 12/01/24 to 12/09/24

Locations of Harvest: Areas in British Columbia (BC)

14-8, Landfile 1413888  14-8, Landfile 1402293  14-8, Landfile 1402060
14-8, Landfile 1402294  14-8, Landfile 1409454  14-15, Landfile 249854
14-8, Landfile 1409240  14-8, Landfile 1402193

Purpose

S&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, CA has issued a recall for certain oysters harvested from BC, Canada due to a norovirus outbreak. The oysters were sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi oysters that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from BC, Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, LF # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854, Canada. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MO, NC, NV, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed to other states, as well. The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of these oysters following the instruction provided in the recallExternal Link Disclaimer because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

Symptoms of Norovirus

People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. The most common symptoms of norovirus 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. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Symptoms of dehydration include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.

If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call your healthcare provider.

Summary of Problem and Scope

S&M Shellfish Co of San Francisco, CA has issued a recall for certain oysters sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from BC, Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, LF # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854, due to a norovirus outbreak. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MO, NC, NV, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed to other states, as well. FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of these oysters following the instruction provided in the recall because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

FDA Actions

The FDA is issuing this alert advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat certain oysters sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi oysters that were harvested between 12/1/2024 and 12/9/2024 from BC, Canada growing area(s) BC 14-8, LF # 1413888, 1409240, 1402294, 1409454, 1402193, 1402293, 1402060, and growing area BC 14-15, LF # 249854, due to possible norovirus contamination. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MO, NC, NV, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed to other states, as well. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of these oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed. As new information becomes available, the FDA will update the safety alert.

Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell these potentially contaminated oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any of these products by throwing them in the garbage or returning them to their distributor for destruction.

Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
• Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
• Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

Recommendations for Consumers

Consumers should not eat these potentially contaminated oysters. Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.