FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell Certain Oysters

The FDA has issued an advisory for both restaurants and retailers to not sell or serve or sell a specific oyster harvest as they may be contaminated with norovirus. The oysters in questions were harvested from Louisiana Area 3 from 1/10/2025 through 2/4/2025. The oysters were shipped to distributors and retailers in AL, FL, LA, MD, MS, NC, and TX and may have been distributed to other states as well.¹

This FDA advisory comes after the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has issued a recall. The state’s department of health said this includes shucked, frozen, breaded, post-harvest processed and oysters for the half-shell market due to norovirus-like illnesses reported after oysters were consumed from Area 3.¹ Area 3 is located east of Lake Borgne, north of Eloi Bay, and includes Chandeleur Islands and surrounding marshes.²

As of February 4, 15 people became ill with norovirus-like illness after eating the Louisiana oysters harvested from Area 3 at several New Orleans restaurants between January 15 and January 31. The illnesses were not life-threatening, but two people were hospitalized and have been discharged. LDH reported that Louisiana oysters harvested outside of Area 3 as well as all other Louisiana seafood statewide are safe for consumption.²

LDH has notified local oyster harvesters who work in the affected area and the Louisiana Oyster Task Force. The department is continuing its health investigations and environmental monitoring of the closed oyster waters and will reopen them as soon as they meet Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) standards. This determination is made by staff with the Office of Public Health’s Molluscan Shellfish Program. Oyster waters are cleaned by the natural cycle of tides.²

Oysters are filter feeders and can accumulate contaminants and microorganisms present in the water, which can in turn affect people who eat raw or under-processed contaminated oysters.²

Norovirus Symptoms, Treatment

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 norovirus.¹

There is no cure for norovirus, and treatment revolves around managing symptoms including drinking plenty of liquids, especially those with electrolytes.³ Typically, symptoms resolve in 1-3 days. ³

References
1.FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Oysters from Louisiana Harvest Area 3, Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus. FDA February 7, 2025. Accessed February 8, 2025.https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-oysters-5
2. LDH recalls oysters and closes Oyster Harvesting Area 3. LDH. February 4, 2025. Accessed February 8, 2025. https://ldh.la.gov/news/oyster-recall
3. Norovirus. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed February 8, 2025.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17703-norovirus