The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell certain oysters from South Korea after a norovirus outbreak was reported in California.
The California Department of Public Health notified the FDA about “multiple illnesses” related to consumers eating Frozen Half Shell Oysters distributed by Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.-based seafood wholesaler Sea Win, which initiated a recall on 10 March.
The recall includes 650 cases of the oysters, KR 7 SP with harvest dates of 20 January 2024 and 4 February 2024 distributed in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, U.S.A., and to other wholesale distributors. The company said the oysters were packed in a white corrugated box and labeled “Frozen Half Shell Oysters, Product of Korea, Pack 144 counts.”
The FDA said consumers should not eat the potentially contaminated oysters and restaurants and retailers should dispose of them. Additionally, retailers, restaurants, and other foodservice operators that have processed and packaged any of the oysters in question should be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils.
