The Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for certain oysters ahead of Memorial Day Weekend amid fears the seafood was contaminated with norovirus.
Khee Trading INC., an importer based in Compton, California, have recalled frozen half-shell oysters harvested from South Korea.
The oysters were harvested on January 30 and processed in Tongyeong-si. The California Department of Public Health notified the FDA on May 15 of the possible contamination.
The FDA warned that restaurants and food retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington purchased the recalled fish.
Health officials added that the product may have been distributed to other states as well.
Consumers and food retailers have been advised to avoid frozen, raw, and half-shell oysters with the lot code: B250130.
It’s unclear how the product was potentially contaminated, but the FDA said officials would continue to investigate the situation.
Restaurants and food retailers who have purchased the recalled oysters have been asked to dispose of them.
The FDA has issued a recall for certain oysters ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
Retailers across multiple US states purchased the recalled oysters that were potentially contaminated with norovirus
The FDA also warned restaurants of the possibility of cross-contamination, adding that food workers should be cautious when handling the recalled oysters.
Norovirus is a highly-contagious disease and is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea. It is more commonly referred to as the ‘stomach bug’ or the ‘stomach flu.’
The virus can be contracted through direct contact with an infected individual, eating food and drink that was contaminated with the virus, or touching contaminated objects before putting your hands near your mouth and eyes.
Consuming oysters and other shellfish can also increase your chances of contracting norovirus.
The typical recovery time for norovirus is a few days, although infected individuals can still spread the disease for two weeks or more after contracting it.
