Louisiana Health Officials Recall Oysters After Norovirus Outbreak

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

####Update 2025, February 18th:
The FDA is updating its safety alert after state investigators found that the recalled oysters were also distributed to Minnesota (MN), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), Vermont (VT), and Virginia (VA). The FDA will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-oysters-5


Update 2025, February 11th:
The FDA has expanded its safety alert after state investigators found that the recalled oysters were distributed to additional states, including Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), and Texas (TX). The FDA advises restaurants and food retailers to stop serving or selling these oysters and to dispose of them. Consumers should also avoid eating oysters harvested from Louisiana Area 3 between January 10, 2025, and February 4, 2025, due to potential norovirus contamination. The FDA will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Source: www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-oysters-5


2025, February 4th:
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has recalled oysters harvested near Chandeleur Islands following a norovirus outbreak. Fifteen people fell ill after consuming the seafood, prompting the closure of Oyster Harvesting Area 3. The recall affects all oysters harvested from Area 3 since January 10, 2025, including shucked, frozen, breaded, post-harvest processed, and half-shell market oysters. The individuals who fell ill consumed the oysters at several New Orleans restaurants between January 15 and January 31. While none of the illnesses were life-threatening, two people were hospitalized and have since been discharged.

The affected area is located east of Lake Borgne, north of Eloi Bay, and encompasses the Chandeleur Islands and surrounding marshes.

The issue was discovered after reports of norovirus-like illnesses following the consumption of oysters from Area 3. Norovirus, often referred to as the "stomach flu," can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. The virus can be contracted in several ways, including consuming food or liquids contaminated by infected food handlers. Cooking can kill the virus, but undercooked oysters harvested from contaminated waters have caused outbreaks in the past.

In response to the outbreak, the LDH, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has ensured no oysters are harvested from the closed area. The closure order took effect on February 4, 2025, and is expected to last for at least 21 days. According to the LDH, all Louisiana oysters harvested outside of Area 3 as well as all other Louisiana seafood statewide are safe for consumption.

The LDH is continuing its health investigations and environmental monitoring of the closed oyster waters. The department will reopen the area once it meets the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) standards. Oysters are filter feeders and can accumulate contaminants and microorganisms present in the water, potentially affecting those who consume raw or under-processed contaminated oysters.





Source: ldh.la.gov/news/oyster-recall