The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Fanny Bay Oysters based in British Columbia, Canada.

Oyesters harvested on Oct. 17 from harvest area 14-8 Landfile #278757 and shipped to distributors in California and Washington have been found to be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, according to a public warning from the Food and Drug Administration.

Oysters with high levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus can cause illness if eaten raw, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. 

Food containing Vibrio parahaemolyticus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of Vibrio parahaemolyticus should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and bloody diarrhea may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

On Oct. 30, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a recall of certain oysters because of Vibrio parahaemolyticus test results.  There are no known related illnesses at this time.

The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of the implicated oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.