On Dec. 16, the FDA issued an advisory for oysters and clams harvested in Washington and announced a recall on Dec. 18 for oysters harvested in Canada.
The implicated products in the Dec. 16 advisory include oysters and Manila clams harvested from Nov. 15, 2024, and Dec. 11, 2024, by Rudy's Shellfish in Pickering Passage in Washington.
The advisory is prompting retailers and restaurants to stop selling these products and for consumers to throw them out.
The oysters and clams were distributed to restaurants and consumers in these states:
The latest oyster recall was issued by San Francisco-based S&M Shellfish Co., the FDA announced on Dec. 18. The oysters in question were sold under the names Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi oysters that were harvested in British Columbia between Dec. 1, 2024, and Dec. 9, 2024.
Consumers can find the oysters printed on the shellfish tag with the following information:
The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in 15 states, including:
They may also have been distributed to other states.
The FDA recommends restaurants and retailers not serve or sell the oysters. Instead, they should be thrown out or returned to their distributor to be destroyed.
"Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems," the FDA said in its statement.
"Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local health department."
Also known as a stomach flu or a stomach bug, "Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea," according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Norovirus' most common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain, while fever, headache and body aches are among other symptoms. A person can also become dehydrated. People of any age can get the virus.
A person typically begins exhibiting symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure to norovirus and most people with norovirus get better within one to three days.