In late March and April, at least 33 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus were linked to oysters from JBR Inc., a Korean company based in Tongyeongsi, South Korea. The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning to distributors and retailers regarding these raw oysters, after health officials reported the connection. Two California distributors, S.J. Distributors LLC in San Jose and Great Wall Seafood LA LLC in Irwindale, have issued recalls of the oysters. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the Republic of Korea has advised the company to voluntarily recall the distributed lots.
Restaurants and retailers who have potentially contaminated raw oysters are being urged to discard any leftover product. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious gastrointestinal illness, spreading person-to-person through contaminated surfaces and contaminated food. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, which can last for one to three days.
For more information on shellfish advisories, individuals can visit the California Department of Public Health website. It’s important for consumers to be cautious when consuming raw seafood and to only purchase from reputable sources to avoid potential health risks.