USA – FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

FDA

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in Hawaii (HI) and California (CA) that have recently purchased individually quick frozen (IQF) oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, Republic of Korea (ROK) (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.
  • Consumers in HI and CA who have recently purchased IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.

Product

The implicated products include certain IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in HI and CA. The oysters may have been distributed to other states as well.

The photos below are included as an example of product labeling from IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228:

On 6/13/2024, the Hawaii Department of Health advised the FDA of an outbreak of norovirus illnesses associated with the consumption of certain IQF oysters from Central Fisheries Co., LTD (KR-6-SP), ROK, harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.

On 6/19/2024, the ROK advised the FDA that Central Fisheries Co., LTD is voluntarily recallingExternal Link Disclaimer certain oysters due to possible norovirus contamination. The recall includes IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR-6-SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025, and Lot Code # C-20230228.

The Central Fisheries Co., LTD oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in HI and CA. The oysters may have been distributed to other states as well.

Sample Product Image - Alert on Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Designated Area No. 2 Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus
Sample Product Image - Alert on Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Designated Area No. 2 Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Purpose

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of, and consumers not to consume IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C- 20230228, and shipped to distributors in HI and CA because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

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