Oysters harvested in Connecticut and distributed to restaurants and stores in five states may be contaminated by sewage, Food and Drug Administration warned this week.
As a result, the FDA urged consumers not to eat oysters harvested in the Groton and Stonington areas of Connecticut and sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The oysters in question could also have been distributed beyond these states.
The potentially affected oysters, according to the FDA, were harvested between August 28-30 and came from dealers CT-393-SS, AQ, CT-004-SS, AQ and CT-020-SS, AQ. The lot numbers affected are L-30 and L-26B1.
The FDA is asking restaurants and food retailers not to serve and dispose of oysters that may be contaminated.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture issued on August 30 a remind of of the oysters “due to poor test results.”
The FDA subsequently issued its notice.
Eating contaminated raw oysters can cause illness, and contaminated food can sometimes look, smell and taste normal.
The FDA urged anyone with symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, to contact their doctor.
The source of contamination has not been identified.
The state-approved harvesting areas are temporarily closed and no product is left on the market, according to Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg).
“The precautionary closure was implemented out of an abundance of caution following routine aquatic and shellfish monitoring which returned results outside of the area’s normal parameters to protect public health and the integrity of Connecticut’s shellfish program and industry,” the CT DoAg said in a statement. It is “working with the seafood industry, affected cities, local health departments and sewer departments to determine the potential source of contamination.”
There have been no illnesses associated with the recall.