So far, this year has not been a good one when it comes to food recalls and contaminations. Almost everyone has likely heard by now about the dangerous E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce which has since spread to 25 states across the USA. Around the same time, there was also a massive recall on 200 million eggs due to fears over potential salmonella poisoning.
Although these warnings are in effect for the entire country, another food story broke recently on the West Coast.
As reported by ABC News in Los Angeles, many Californians have fallen ill as a result of eating raw oysters.
According to the California Department of Public Health in a statement from May 1st, more than 100 different people reported illnesses after eating raw British Columbian oysters from various restaurants and retailers throughout the state. Among those affected were several who tested positive for norovirus as well. Though the outbreak wasn’t linked to one distributor in California, CDPH officials did report that the oysters were likely sourced from four oyster farms in the south and central Baynes Sound.
Still, what has happened in California is only the latest story in a chain of recent events.
As the Public Health Agency of Canada reported in April, many other people also contracted gastrointestinal illnesses linked to oysters.
According to their data, 172 Canadians had also fallen ill throughout British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. To address the issue, the FDA released a consumer advisory statement on their website explaining the situation:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with federal, state, and local officials regarding a norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from British Columbia, Canada. The FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, were distributed to AK, CA, IL, MA, NY, and WA. It is possible that additional states received these oysters either directly from Canada or through further distribution within the U.S.”
Although eating raw shellfish always comes with some inherent risk, norovirus is particularly unpleasant—and contagious.
For anyone who thinks they have have eaten contaminated food, it’s important to know the main symptoms of norovirus and how to identify them. The main issues associated with norovirus are similar to the stomach flu, and include stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fever. While anyone can contract this illness, older adults and children who are younger than five are particularly susceptible. Those who are affected will typically experience symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of the initial exposure.
Although this problem hasn’t spread significantly yet, the USDA is suggesting advising when it comes to eating oysters.
More specifically, the FDA announced that oysters coming from harvest locations in the Baynes Sound identified as #1402060, #1411206, #1400483 and #278757 were to be avoided in particular. To take extra care, consider avoiding these foods altogether until more information is available. Though the advisory is on relatively low alert right now, it has already spread to at least six states and could easily spread to more.
Be sure to stay up to date by following this page or for looking at the FDA’s official statements on their website.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
