Oyster Recall In 14 States, Including Florida

FORT MYERS, Florida - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent safety advisory following the recall of certain oysters harvested from British Columbia, Canada, due to potential norovirus contamination. These oysters, sold under the brands Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi, were harvested between December 1 and December 9, 2024, from growing areas BC 14-8 and BC 14-15.  

The recall, initiated by S&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, CA, affects oysters distributed to restaurants, retailers, and consumers in multiple states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The FDA warns that the oysters may have been distributed to other states as well.  

Risk of Norovirus Contamination

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus, can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and can last 1 to 3 days. Severe dehydration, particularly among children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, is a significant risk.  

Oysters contaminated with norovirus often appear normal in smell, taste, and appearance, making detection without testing difficult.  

Identification of Affected Products

The affected oysters can be identified by the following details on their shellfish tags:  

Original Harvester/Producer: Pacific Northwest Shellfish and Union Bay Seafood  

Certification Numbers: BC 740 SP and BC 6001 SP  

Harvest Locations: Areas BC 14-8 (Landfiles #1413888, #1402293, #1402060, #1402294, #1409454, #1409240, #1402193) and BC 14-15 (Landfile #249854)  

The FDA advises the following steps for restaurants, retailers, and consumers:  

For Restaurants and Retailers:

- Immediately stop serving or selling the recalled oysters.  

- Dispose of the products or return them to the distributor for destruction.  

- Clean and sanitize all food preparation surfaces, containers, and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.  

For Consumers:

- Avoid eating the potentially contaminated oysters.  

- Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration develop.  

- Report symptoms to local health departments.