Recent Recall for Oysters Highlights Norovirus Risk

Over the past year, there have been 14 recalls for oysters after foodborne illness outbreaks, primarily due to norovirus infections.  Five of those outbreaks / recalls occurred over the past 4 months (below), with the last one due to oysters harvested in Louisiana.   

Raw oysters are a risk for viral and bacterial pathogens.  As filter feeds, they capture the contaminants in the water column and those contaminates are consumed when the oysters are eaten raw.  The government requires shellfish identification tags to be placed on the shellfish when harvested and these tags accompany the shellfish to the point of sale, at which point, they must be kept on file in the event of an outbreak.  This allows investigators to identify the site in which the oysters were harvested and then issue a source specific recall.

Louisiana Oysters - Norovirus - Feb 2025

The Louisiana Department of Health has issued a recall for certain oysters that were harvested from Louisiana due to an outbreak of norovirus illnesses. The oysters were harvested from Louisiana Area 3 from 1/10/2025 through 2/4/2025. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AL, FL, LA, MD, MS, NC, and TX 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, and consumers not to eat, these oysters following the instruction provided below because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Washington State Oysters - Norovirus - Jan 2025

Washington State is conducting a recall of shellstock oysters harvested from 12/02/2024 to 12/17/2024 by Ruco’s Shellfish (WA-1995-SS) from a portion of Hammersley Inlet growing area in WA due to a norovirus outbreak. The oysters were distributed in WA and OR 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, and consumers not to eat, these oysters following the instruction provided below because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Canadian Oysters - Norovirus - Dec 2024

Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC has issued a recall for certain oysters harvested from BC, Canada due to norovirus contamination. The oysters were sold as Fanny Bay, Sunseeker, and Cloudy Bay oysters from lots # 39021 and # 39033 that were originally harvested from BC, Canada growing area BC 14-8 LF# 0278741 on 11/27/2024 and 12/03/2024 and lots # 39036 and # 39043 that were originally harvested from growing area BC 14-8 LF # 0335309 on 12/03/2024 and 12/05/2024. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AB, BC, and ON, Canada, and in CA, USA, 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, and consumers not to eat, these oysters following the instruction provided below because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Canadian Oysters - Norovirus - Dec 2024

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 recall because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Washington State Oysters - Norovirus - Dec 2024

Washington has recalled oysters and Manila clams harvested from 11/15/2024 to 12/11/2024 by Rudy’s Shellfish (WA-1590-SS) from the Pickering Passage growing area in Washington due to a Norovirus outbreak. The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of the oysters and Manila clams harvested from 11/15/2024 to 12/11/2024 by Rudy’s Shellfish (WA-1590-SS) from Pickering Passage growing area in Washington because they may be contaminated with Norovirus.