The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about oysters and clams that could be contaminated with norovirus and were sold in nine states, including California, Florida and New York.
The seafood warning mentioned “certain raw oysters” harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Manila clams harvested by Lummi Indian Business Council between Feb. 13 and March 3, according to the federal agency’s statement to consumers.
These potentially contaminated oysters and clams were shipped to food retailers and restaurants in nine states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, according to the FDA.
The agency urged restaurants and retailers “not to serve or sell potentially contaminated Manila oysters or clams,” and to “dispose of any product by throwing it in the trash or contacting your distributor to have it destroyed.”
There is also a risk of cross-contamination if those contaminated products come into contact with processing equipment that is in contact with other foods in the kitchen, the agency added.
Representatives from Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and the Lummi Indigenous Business Council could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.
However, the tribe issued a statement on Friday warning of the possible presence of norovirus in seafood from Drayton Harbor. The warning was not a recall, but urged consumers not to eat raw seafood.
Consuming contaminated shellfish could cause symptoms for 13 to 48 hours before improving in another 24 to 72 hours, the FDA added.
Norovirus symptoms include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches.
