Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Norovirus,Outbreaks & Recalls on April 27, 2025
California norovirus outbreak prompts imported Korean oyster recall with more oysters added to the list.
How many people are sick? Which oysters should you avoid? And how the heck do oysters get contaminated with norovirus anyway.
Follow along to find out the answer to those pressing questions, and more!
According to the California Department of Public Health, there have been at least 13 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus infections associated with this outbreak. Sick people reported eating raw, half shell oysters in late February and early March 2025 from four restaurants.
The oysters were traced back to a common supplier. Daihung Mulsan Co., Ltd from the Republic of Korea.
In response to this outbreak, Daihung Mulsan Co., issued a recall for their imported oysters. Shortly after, a subsequent recall expanded potentially affected products.
The FDA announced a recall issued by Daihung Mulsan Co., Ltd (KR 7 SP) with an updated Korean Oyster Recall notice on March 26, 2025. The expanded recall includes additional oysters processed by KR-7-SP.
In all, 1500 cases of imported oysters were shipped to Sea Win, Inc of Los Angeles, California. Product may have been further distributed from there.
Affected products are labeled with KR-7-SP and were harvested from Designated Area II.
Harvest dates include:
Frozen half shell oysters have a two-year shelf life from their original harvest date, potentially complicating the recall process. “Customers who have purchased these oysters should dispose of them,” according to the recall notice.
Though, if you become sick with symptoms consistent with norovirus and have inadvertently consumed oysters from this recall or even oysters not included in this recall, it is a good idea to retain product packaging for traceback investigation purposes.
Most cases of norovirus go undiagnosed. This is because the virus moves quickly. People are often better before they have an opportunity to seek medical treatment. Therefore, they are not tested for norovirus.
Most cases of norovirus are what is considered “probable.” In that a person with symptoms consistent with norovirus ate the same food as someone who has been diagnosed with norovirus. Alternatively, a probable case could also include someone who has symptoms consistent with norovirus that consumed food later determined to be contaminated with norovirus.
It is unclear which category these probable cases fall under. Or if other cases have been experienced and not documented. Though I suspect that the true number of cases is much larger, considering the span of harvest dates included in the recall notice.
Norovirus infection symptoms often begin within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.
The most common symptoms include:
Some people may also experience fever, headache, and body aches.
Most people feel better within one to three days.
Dehydration is a common complication of norovirus. This is often the symptom that leads to medical intervention and positive laboratory tests.
When you are unable to consume as much water as your body is releasing, you can become dehydrated.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
If you or a loved one is sick and show symptoms of dehydration, call your healthcare provider right away.
It seems strange that a sea creature could become contaminated with norovirus. But it happens all of the time. How exactly does that happen?
First, norovirus gets into the aquatic environment where these oysters and other shellfish live. Often from untreated human sewage (poop) and vomit.
Several situations can lead to this type of contamination. Including:
While norovirus can infect other shellfish, like clams, geoducks, mussels and scallops, oysters are the most notorious. It is likely because they are commonly eaten raw.
Oysters are filter feeders. In that they take in water through their bodies, filter out the food they use to survive, and push out the rest. Over time, if the water is contaminated with norovirus, the germ builds up in the sea creature. When it is caught and sold for human consumption, the virus is transmitted to the consumer.
The best way to prevent norovirus infections from consuming oysters is to only consume them cooked. Raw oysters have not been appropriately heat treated to kill potential bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could be living in or on the organism.
Before you start pulling myths out of your back packet, I’d like to take a moment to dispel some of them.
NO! Drinking alcohol with them does not kill germs on oysters.
NO! Lemon juice does not kill germs on oysters.
NO! Consuming them during “R” months is no safer.
NO! Hot sauce is not a sanitizer.
Did I miss any? If I did. The answer, unless it involves cooking to a temperature of 145° F, is NO.
If you become sick with norovirus after eating oysters, there are a few things that you can do to help your situation.
Norovirus symptoms deplete the body of important fluids. Drink water or electrolyte drinks and avoid sugary beverages until you are back to normal.
Norovirus is highly contagious. You can easily pass your illness on to others. Be sure to effectively wash your hands after you use the bathroom, change diapers, or help someone who is sick in the bathroom. You know how bad you feel. Don’t wish that on others.
Whether your norovirus illness is part of a known outbreak or otherwise, reporting your symptoms to your local health department can help investigators track down the source of an outbreak. The more people who report their symptoms and what they ate prior to feeling sick, the more data that investigators have to identify a source.
Becoming sick in an outbreak can be a serious burden. Particularly if it involves medical bills, missed work, or other expenses. Advice from an experienced norovirus lawyer will help inform you of your rights. More information is always better.
If you became sick with norovirus after consuming products in the Korean Oyster recall or other foods, the experienced Food Poisoning Lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help! Reach out by phone at (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form for a free, no obligation consultation.