Norovirus Alert: California Health Officials Warn of Potentially Contaminated Raw Oysters from Korean Company

The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning to retailers and distributors regarding raw oysters from a Korean company believed to be linked to norovirus cases. This warning was issued after health officials reported that oysters from JBR Inc., a company based in Tongyeongsi, South Korea, are likely connected to at least 33 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus in San Diego County in late March and April.

Restaurants and retailers who have the 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.

The California Department of Public Health has advised individuals to avoid consuming raw or undercooked seafood as it may contain harmful bacteria or viruses. They also recommend that people who have recently eaten seafood should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds before handling any other food items or surfaces.

Two California distributors, S.J. Distributors LLC in San Jose and Great Wall Seafood LA LLC in Irwindale, have issued recalls of the oysters due to potential contamination by norovirus. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the Republic of Korea has advised JBR Inc., the Korean company responsible for the distribution of the oysters, to voluntarily recall the distributed lots in order to prevent further harm from contaminated seafood products.