Buzz
Image: HUIZENG HU/Getty ImagesIf you're planning to serve fresh seafood at an upcoming celebration, it might be wise to reconsider. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued two active recalls for seafood, specifically oysters and Manila clams.
The first recall, announced on December 16, involves oysters and Manila clams harvested by Rudy's Shellfish in Washington State. These potentially contaminated products were collected from the Pickering Passage growing area between November 15 and December 11 of this year. They were then distributed to restaurants and food retailers across several states.
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
- Washington
The FDA has confirmed that the recall was prompted by a norovirus outbreak. Due to this outbreak and the risk of contamination, the FDA is advising that the recalled oysters and Manila clams should not be served or sold by restaurants or food retailers. These items should be disposed of immediately.
The second recall, which was announced on December 18, involves oysters sold under the brand names Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi. These oysters were harvested from various growing regions in British Columbia, Canada, between December 1 and December 9. Like the Washington state seafood, these oysters are being recalled due to concerns about norovirus.
This recall affects restaurants and food retailers in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
You can identify the shellfish by the following details found on the tag:
Original Harvester/Producer: Pacific Northwest Shellfish and Union Bay Seafood. Cert. Numbers: BC 740 SP and BC 6001 SP. Harvest Dates: 12/01/24 to 12/09/24.
Symptoms of Norovirus
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines norovirus as 'a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.' It spreads easily, with anyone of any age at risk, primarily through the consumption of contaminated food or liquids, making it a frequent source of outbreaks.
Clams and oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if consumed and may be especially dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems. The FDA notes that norovirus symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and body aches. Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and most people start feeling better within 1 to 3 days.
The FDA also points out that norovirus contamination in food can be hard to identify, as foods infected with the virus may appear, smell, and taste perfectly normal.
If you've recently eaten oysters or clams and are experiencing symptoms of illness, it's important to reach out to your healthcare provider right away and report your symptoms to your local health department.
