Wild Harvest Oysters Are Being Recalled in Multiple States Due to New Salmonella Outbreak

published Mar 6, 2023

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Enjoying a platter of freshly shucked raw oysters can be a great way to spend happy hour. When paired with lemon or an assortment of dipping-sauce options and a chilled martini, eating oysters feels both elegant and satisfying. But those who live in a few specific Southern regions may want to take note of the source of their most recent oyster purchases due to a new advisory from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Any restaurants or food retailers that received shipments of wild harvest oysters from harvest area FL-3012 in Cedar Key, Florida, are being warned to not sell or use those oysters due to concerns of salmonella contamination. According to the recall, the oysters — which were harvested between December 16, 2022 and February 24, 2023 — were sold throughout the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The FDA warns, however, that other states may have also received some of these oysters, so other states should keep an eye out as well.

The recall was initiated after officials in Florida became aware of a salmonella outbreak due to the consumption of raw oysters from the harvest area. As of report date, there have been eight cases of illness due to the outbreak. According to the FDA, salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail people, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

Salmonella is an even greater risk when consuming uncooked food, such as raw oysters, and often results in fever and stomach issues. More severe cases, however, can make people seriously sick and even result in hospitalization, so this is one recall you’ll want to get ahead of if possible.

If you recently purchased oysters for your restaurant, retail location, or for at-home consumption, you can find the harvest area information on the package. If yours happens to be the ones in question, the FDA is urging you to throw them out instead of consuming them as well as properly sanitizing any area that the food may have touched. It’s also important that you wash your hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

Wondering what other recalls and public health alerts have been issued lately from your favorite brands? Check out this page that’s updated regularly to stay in the know.