Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture.
If you're thinking about serving fresh seafood at an upcoming holiday party, you might want to reconsider. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), there are currently two active recalls relating to seafood -- specifically oysters and Manilla clams.
The first recall, which was announced on December 16, includes oysters and Manila clams harvested by Rudy's Shellfish in Washington State. The potentially contaminated seafood was harvested in the Pickering Passage growing area between November 15 and December 11 of this year, and was later distributed to restaurants and food retailers in the following states:
According to the FDA, the recall was initiated because of a norovirus outbreak. Due to the outbreak and the potential for contamination, the FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell any of the recalled oysters and Manila clams. Instead, the mollusks should be disposed of immediately.
The second recall, which was initiated on December 18, impacts oysters sold under the brand names Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi. These oysters were harvested between December 1 and December 9 of this year from several growing areas in British Columbia, Canada. Like the seafood from Washington state, these oysters are also being recalled due to norovirus concerns.
This recall affects restaurants and food retailers in the following states:
Identification can be made by the following information printed on the shellfish tag:
Original Harvester/Producer: Pacific Northwest Shellfish and Union Bay Seafood
Cert. Numbers: BC 740 SP and BC 6001 SP Dates of Harvest: 12/01/24 to 12/09/24
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), norovirus is "a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea." Additionally, people of any age can contract norovirus by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated by an infected person, which is partially why it's so contagious.
Clams and oysters contaminated with norovirus can lead to illness, if eaten, and may trigger a potentially severe illness in those with compromised immune systems. Per the FDA, symptoms of norovirus include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and body ache. A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus, and begins to feel better within 1 to 3 days.
The FDA also notes that norovirus can be difficult to detect in food, because foods contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal.
If you've recently consumed oysters or clams and are experiencing symptoms of illness, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately and report your symptoms to the local health department.