The salmonella oyster recall tied to the Little Wicomico Oyster Company has left more than 30 people sickened or hospitalized across the United States, drawing the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into a joint investigation. The outbreak traces to shellstock oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River in Northumberland County, Virginia.
On Oct 9, the company and the Virginia Department of Health announced a voluntary recall of select oyster batches. Shoppers are being urged to check any oyster packaging for harvest dates between Sept 18 and Oct 8 and the shipper number VA-1421-SP. Oysters carrying those marks should be thrown away or returned.
The oysters reached at least 15 states, and an Oct 19 CDC notice said the contaminated batches may have been distributed beyond those states. Virginia has temporarily closed the Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting while investigators trace the source of the contamination.
How the salmonella oyster recall started
The FDA and CDC are investigating the outbreak after reports of illness linked to raw or undercooked oysters from the Little Wicomico Oyster Company. More than 30 people have been sickened or hospitalized so far, according to the agencies tracking the case.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection commonly linked to contaminated food and water. Infections usually bring fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea within hours or days of eating contaminated food. Most people recover without treatment, but the illness can be serious for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The Oct 9 recall notice described the action as voluntary, issued jointly by the company and the Virginia Department of Health. It covers shellstock oysters, meaning oysters sold in their shells to distributors, restaurants and retailers rather than shucked meat.
Which states the salmonella oyster recall covers
The affected states include California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, and Washington DC is also affected. The CDC said in an Oct 19 notice that the oysters may have been distributed beyond the original 15 states, which widened the concern to consumers and businesses that received shipments without knowing the origin.
Because oysters move through long supply chains, a single harvest can end up on plates far from the water where it was gathered. Distributors and restaurants in the affected states have been asked to check their inventory and pull any matching product.
Virginia’s decision to close the Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting is a standard step during an outbreak investigation. The closure stays in place until testing shows the water meets safety standards.
How to check your oysters during the recall
Consumers checking on the salmonella oyster recall should look at the tag or label attached to oyster packaging. The tags record where and when the oysters were harvested. In the salmonella oyster recall, the batch to watch for carries harvest dates between Sept 18 and Oct 8 and shipper number VA-1421-SP.
Anyone who has matching oysters at home should not eat them. Health officials say the safe move is to throw the oysters away or return them to the store where they were bought. Restaurants and retailers holding affected stock should remove it from sale and contact their suppliers.
People who ate oysters from the affected batches and feel ill should see a doctor, especially if symptoms are severe or do not improve. Doctors can order tests that confirm a salmonella infection, and confirmed cases help investigators map the outbreak.
What comes next in the salmonella oyster recall investigation
The FDA, CDC and Virginia health officials continue to track illness reports and test samples from the affected batches. The salmonella oyster recall may expand if new cases point to additional shipments or harvest dates.
The Little Wicomico River closure will remain until Virginia completes its water testing and the harvesting area clears the state’s safety standards. The investigation into the salmonella oyster recall remains open, and the agencies said more findings would follow as testing continues.