FDA issues Vibrio warning on certain oysters from B.C.

The FDA advises restaurants and food retailers not to sell and dispose of oysters, and advises consumers not to eat oysters from the Fanny Bay Oyster Company in British Columbia, Canada.

According to a public warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, oysters harvested from Harvest Area 14-8 Landfile #278757 on October 17 and shipped to distributors in California and Washington were found to be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Oysters with high levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus may cause illness if eaten raw, potentially causing serious illness in people with compromised immune systems.

Foods containing Vibrio parahaemolyticus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who develop symptoms of V. parahaemolyticus should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local health department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and bloody diarrhea may be associated with gastroenteritis infection caused by this organism.

On October 30, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall certain oysters due to test results for Vibrio parahaemolyticus. There are no known associated diseases.

FDA is awaiting further information on the distribution of affected oysters and will continue to monitor investigations and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.

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