Earlier this month, a large group gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate The Los Angeles Times' list of the 101 best restaurants. On the menu were raw oysters, typically a celebratory delicacy, but in this case, anything but. As ABC News reports, at least 80 people got sickened with norovirus linked to the shellfish. Said oysters, along with Manila clams, have since been recalled by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, as they could be contaminated with the virus.
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What is norovirus?
Norovirus is very contagious and causes gastrointestinal sickness. It is "the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After exposure, symptoms usually develop within 24 to 48 hours and most commonly include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms are fever, headache, and body aches. Because norovirus can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting multiple times per day, dehydration is a common side effect.
Most people's symptoms will clear up in one to three days, but they can remain contagious for a few days after.
"If eaten raw, oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish can contain viruses and bacteria that can cause illness or death. Anyone who consumes raw shellfish is at risk of contracting norovirus," notes the CDC. "Children younger than 5 years old, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections."
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The FDA recalled certain oysters and Manila clams from Pickering Passage, Washington.
On Dec. 13, the FDA issued a recall for oysters and Manila clams harvested from the Pickering Passage growing area in Washington from Nov. 15 to Dec. 11, 2024, by Rudy’s Shellfish.
"The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of the oysters and Manila clams...because they may be contaminated with Norovirus," states the notice.
The affected shellfish were shipped to distributors and retailers in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Washington and may have been distributed to other states, too.
It's important to note that food contaminated with norovirus may still look and smell normal.
The FDA then recalled certain oysters from British Columbia, Canada.
Then, on Dec. 18, the FDA issued a recall for oysters that were sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi oysters, and were harvested between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, 2024 from British Columbia, Canada, growing areas BC 14-8 and BC 14-15.
"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 recall because they may be contaminated with norovirus," the notice states.
The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. They may have also been distributed to other states.
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These are not the only recent oyster recalls.
In 2024 alone, the FDA issued 13 shellfish recalls, 10 of which were for oysters. This is up from 11 total recalls in 2023 and four in 2022.
This past June, shellfish, including oysters, mussels, razor clams, and bay clams, harvested in Oregon and Washington sickened at least 30 people with paralytic shellfish poisoning. As Best Lifereported at the time, this intoxication can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and headache to respiratory paralysis and loss of muscle coordination.
The following month, a woman passed away after contracting the rare but serious virus Vibrio vulnificus from eating raw oysters. In the summer of 2023, someone else died from this rare virus.
Vibrio vulnificus is often referred to as a "flesh-eating" virus because "it can lead to 'necrotizing fasciitis,' which is an infection that causes flesh around an open wound to die," as Best Lifeexplained. These wound infections can be life-threatening.
If you believe you've consumed the affected oysters or are experiencing any symptoms of norovirus, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
