(FreePressBeacon.com) – In a worrying trend, the FDA has urgently recalled oysters harvested by Ruco’s Shellfish in Washington due to a norovirus outbreak, marking the fourth such recall.
See the tweet below!
This urgent measure highlights a serious public threat from contaminated seafood.
Distributed largely in the states of Washington and Oregon, these oysters demand immediate attention, as norovirus is highly infectious.
The recall concerns oysters harvested from Washington’s Hammersley Inlet between December 2 and December 17.
The FDA’s decisive action seeks to prevent more people from falling ill.
Oysters from Ruco’s Shellfish, distributed across Washington and Oregon, pose a significant health risk due to the norovirus’s easy transmission.
Symptoms of norovirus, a potent and highly contagious virus, include projectile vomiting, severe diarrhea, and intense nausea.
Particularly dangerous to those with weak immune systems, norovirus outbreaks are no joke.
A food event in Los Angeles already saw at least 80 people afflicted after consuming contaminated oysters.
This recall isn’t isolated. According to recent data, the FDA issued 12 oyster recalls in the past year across several states.
This increasing frequency calls into question the thoroughness of seafood safety measures, posing a substantial risk to consumers who trust that their food systems will safeguard public health.
“Oysters and clams 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,” FDA said.
Restaurants and food retailers should heed the FDA’s warning by not serving or selling the contaminated shellfish.
The FDA has advised strictly disposing of or returning suspect oysters.
Given the virus’s ability to spread through contact and shared surfaces, maintaining hygiene and caution in food preparation is paramount.
Despite appearing typical, contaminated oysters present substantial health risks; norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S.
Each year, more than 2,500 outbreaks occur, often associated with communal environments like healthcare facilities and restaurants.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert concerning norovirus contamination in shellfish products harvested from Washington state’s Pickering Passage growing area,” the FDA said further.
Washington state authorities initiated a recall back on December 12, 2024, underscoring the ongoing vigilance required in monitoring shellfish safety.
As norovirus can spread quickly and cause severe dehydration among those affected, it is crucial to address and mitigate these outbreaks promptly to protect American consumers.
Check out the latest FDA Roundup, our at-a-glance summary of agency updates: https://t.co/6zyKeOqDL7
Today, we issued a notice in the Federal Register with our determination that 35 food contact notifications (FCNs) related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no… pic.twitter.com/4g7Lc4FDQt
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