Oysters harvested in Texas are possibly contaminated with norovirus, sickening dozens of people across several states, authorities say.
Last week Florida, Texas and Louisiana were warned. But now the FDA is advising five other states to stay away from the bad batch.
The FDA was alerted to the oysters by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Florida Department of Health after they were told of people becoming ill.
On Dec. 8, the Texas health department issued a recall order for the oysters in question — those harvested between Nov. 17 and Dec. 7 from harvest area “TX 1” in Galveston Bay.
It’s unclear how many people got sick. At the time of the original recall order, Louisiana reported 10 of 19 cases linked to the oysters being consumed at restaurants.
The FDA is now warning consumers, restaurants and retailers that the bad batch of oysters were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
“The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers to not eat, and restaurants and food retailers to not sell, oysters harvested ... from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas,” the agency said.
Consumers who think they’ve purchased these oysters should check the packaging to see if they were harvested in “TX 1”. If they were unpackaged, contact the seller to find the source. Restaurants should contact their distributor.
The contaminated oysters may cause illness if eaten raw, which will cause symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache and body ache. Symptoms usually develop 24 to 48 hours after exposure. Most people feel better in one to three days.
Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell and taste normal, the FDA said.
If a person feels they have norovirus symptoms, they should contact their healthcare provider.
--------
