Seafood Recall Issued Over Potential Severe Illness

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to restaurants, food retailers and consumers over a possible norovirus contamination in oysters that could cause severe illness after a recall from the company.

Restaurants and food retailers in Hawaii and California that have recently purchased individually quick-frozen oysters from Central Fisheries Co. LTD, based in South Korea, were advised by the FDA on Friday to not serve or sell the oysters and to dispose of them because "they may be contaminated with norovirus."

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Consumers have also been told to not eat the oysters. The FDA said that "the oysters may have been distributed to other states as well."

Newsweek reached out to the FDA via email for comment and was referred to Friday's advisory. It could not reach Central Fisheries for comment.

The potentially contaminated oysters were harvested on February 28, 2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use-by date of February 28, 2025, and lot code # C- 20230228.

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On June 13, the FDA was notified by Hawaii's State Department of Health of an outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to consumption of the oysters.

On Wednesday, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries told the FDA that Central Fisheries was initiating a recall of the potentially contaminated oysters. A notice about the recall read, "Customers who have purchased these oysters should contact their distributor to coordinate return or destruction."

According to the FDA advisory, "Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems."

Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell and taste normal, so it's important to look out for possible symptoms.

Here are some common symptoms of norovirus:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain

Other symptoms include fever, headache and body aches. Norovirus illness can also lead to dehydration, "especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses," the FDA warned.

Typically, if you are exposed to norovirus, symptoms will develop within 12 to 48 hours. If you consumed the potentially contaminated oysters and experience norovirus symptoms, the FDA advises you to contact your health care provider and report your symptoms to local health officials.

"Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days," the FDA said.

The FDA said it is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide any necessary assistance to state officials.

Update, 6/22/24 at 7:05 a.m. ET: The headline was changed.