Editors note: On 11 February the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added Arkansas, Deleware, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee to the list of states the oysters were shipped to.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning retailers and restaurants not to sell certain oysters that could be contaminated with norovirus after 15 people became ill in Louisiana, U.S.A.
On 5 February, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) closed an oyster shellfish harvesting area in Area 3 and ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from that area since 10 January 2025. Fifteen people became ill with a norovirus-like illness after eating oysters from Area 3 across several New Orleans, Louisiana, restaurants between 15 and 31 January, the LDH said.
“The illnesses were not life-threatening, but two people were hospitalized and have been discharged,” the agency said.
Now, the FDA is warning retailers, restaurants, and consumers about the oysters, which were shipped to distributors and retailers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. They may have been distributed to other states as well, the FDA said.
“The investigation is ongoing. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of these oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed,” the agency said.
The recall includes oysters for the half-shell market, shucked, frozen, breaded, and post-harvest processed oysters.
The recall follows similar recalls by the FDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in early January. Both agencies warned U.S. retailers and restaurants not to use certain oysters from Taylor Shellfish Canada and Ruco’s Shellfish for similar fears over the potential for norovirus.
