Seafood News Food Safety & Health

U.S.: Korean shellfish may be contaminated

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By SeafoodSource staff
11 May, 2012 - The Washington State Department of Health is urging consumers not to eat any fresh or frozen shellfish originating from Korea. The warning came in an advisory it issued on Thursday.

According to the agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reporting that all fresh and frozen shellfish imported to the United States from Korea — including breaded product but not canned product — may be contaminated. In the advisory, the agency didn’t specify what the contamination involves.

The FDA has removed all certified dealers in the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program from its Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List, according to the agency, which effectively halts shipments of fresh and frozen shellfish from Korea to the United States, including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops (excluding canned product).

This is a preventative measure, with no reported illnesses so far, reported the agency.

Last year, the United States imported close to 50 million pounds of seafood from South Korea, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Oysters and squid were among the leading products.

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