FDA Announces Advisory for Norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish in Washington State

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement for norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish for the state of Washington. This alert advises restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell certain oysters and Manila clams from the Pickering Passage area due to potential contamination with norovirus. Consumers should not eat these shellfish.

Here’s what we know about norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish and what to do if you have been exposed.

Alert Issued Due to Norovirus Outbreak

According to the safety alert, a recall for certain harvest dates has been issued for oysters and Manila clams obtained from the Pickering Passage growing area in the state of Washington “due to a norovirus outbreak.”

At this time, the details of the number of outbreak patients is not available. However, the harvest dates span nearly a month. Quite a few people would have been exposed during that time.

Recall Due to Norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish

A recall for oysters and Manila clams harvested by Rudy’s Shellfish (WA-1590-SS) was issued on December 12, 2024. All oysters and Manila clams harvested between November 15, 2024 and December 11, 2024 are impacted.

Rudy’s Shellfish Oysters and Manila Clams Harvested Between 11/15/2024 and 12/11/2024

Restaurants and retailers should not sell, and consumers should not eat recalled products.

Affected products were shipped to distributors and retailers in the states of Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Washington state. However, the product may have been further distributed to additional states.

More information on the possible reach of this recall is likely coming soon as the FDA continues to monitor the situation.

Contaminated Shellfish Are Usually Indistinguishable from Safe Shellfish

Food contaminated with norovirus often looks, smells, and tastes no different from non-contaminated shellfish. You will not be able to tell it is contaminated unless a sample is obtained and specialized laboratory tests are performed.

This is why contaminated shellfish pose a serious health concern.

How Does Norovirus Contaminate Shellfish?

There are a couple of ways norovirus can contaminate shellfish.

The primary way that norovirus contaminates shellfish is from contaminated water. Shellfish are filter feeders. Meaning they pull water into their bodies, taking small particles in as food and releasing the water back into the environment. When the water is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, toxins, or other pathogens, the shellfish can hold onto those germs. If not heat treated (in the case of everything but toxins that are not inactivated by heat treatment), these shellfish can make their consumer sick.

The other way that norovirus contaminates shellfish is from an infected food handler. As this recall takes place at the harvest level and not restaurant level, if this was the source, an infected food worker may be to blame. Insufficient handwashing can lead to spreading norovirus infections.

The source of norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish is unclear at this time.

What Should Restaurants and Retailers Do in Response to Norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish Immediately?

Restaurants and retailers should immediately check the seafood tags for all oysters and manila clams obtained after November 15, 2024.

All seafood reputably acquired should have a tag that provides traceability information. This information indicates the harvester and their registration number as well as the harvest date for the seafood product.

These tags should be retained for 90 days after the container is empty.

If a restaurant has these affected products, in addition to discarding recalled products or returning to their point of purchase for destruction, additional cross-contamination prevention protocols should be initiated on food processing equipment and the food processing environment.

This should include:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap after cleaning and sanitation processes.
• Thoroughly clean cutting surfaces and utensils that may have come into contact with contaminated products.
• Clean and sanitize containers used to hold the recalled product.
• Continue regular and frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation to help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

What Should Consumers Do in Response to Norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish Now?

Consumers who may have consumed shellfish from Pickering Passage during the time potentially contaminated oysters and manila clams were distributed to restaurants and retailers in their area should be concerned. Particularly if they have a compromised immune system.

Potentially exposed consumers should:

• Monitor themselves for symptoms and report illness to healthcare provider and local Health Department.
• Make a list of all of the places you have consumed oysters and/or manila clams during the harvest recall period (11/15/24 to 12/11/24).
• Get advice from a norovirus attorney.

Exposed consumers may have already been exposed and until the notice, been unaware of where their illness originated. This can be frustrating and lead to additional viral spread throughout families and the community.

Understanding symptoms of norovirus and how to prevent the spread is key to reducing additional infections.

Norovirus Symptoms

Norovirus is often called “the stomach bug” or “stomach flu” despite being an entirely different virus from the influenza virus. This is likely because it shares quite a few symptoms with the flu virus and many times a source cannot be identified.

Most people begin feeling symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.

Common symptoms of norovirus infection include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Headache
• Fever
• Body aches
• Dehydration

Most people recover within one to three days. You are most contagious and likely to transmit your illness to others while you are feeling sick through the first few days of feeling better.

There is no medical treatment protocol for norovirus. Antibiotics are not effective against this type of infection, so your best course of action is to hydrate and rest until symptoms subside.

Vomiting and diarrhea multiple times a day can lead to dehydration – a dangerous complication.

Especially in young children, older adults, and those with other existing illnesses.

Dehydration symptoms may include:

• Decreased urination
• Dry mouth and throat
• Feeling dizzy when standing up
• Children may cry with few or no tears and/or be unusually sleepy or fussy.

Contact your healthcare provider if you or someone you are caring for becomes severely dehydrated.

Have You Been Impacted by Norovirus in Pickering Passage Shellfish from Rudy’s Shellfish?

If you have been impacted by norovirus in Pickering Passage shellfish from Rudy’s shellfish and want to file a suit for financial compensation, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer that can help!

Foodborne illness is inconvenient, disruptive to your personal and professional life, and in some cases serious or life-threatening. Most of the time foodborne illness is completely preventable. Lapses in testing protocols can result in widespread foodborne illness.

Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation to determine if you have a legal case.

By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)