The Interstate Shellfish Sanitization Conference announced an Oysters Campylobacter Outbreak. Here is everything we know:
An outbreak of Campylobacter infections has spurred the Food and Drug Administration to issue a public warning.
The warning is for recalled oysters from Maine, which are sold under the Recompense Cove brand. The oysters were harvested between June 19 and July 16 from harvest areas CAS RC2 and CAS RCX.
On July 11, the Maine Department of Marine Resources notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about an outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses traced to the oysters. The FDA has not reported the number of sick people or where they live.
According to the FDA:
The following photo is included as an example shellfish tag that would be attached to containers for reference. The Harvest Date and Harvest Area fields would include the specific dates and harvest areas identified in the recall information as mentioned above.
The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat recalled Recompense Cove, Freeport, ME oysters harvested between 6/19/2024 and 7/16/2024 from harvest sites CAS RC2 and CAS RCX and shipped to distributors in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA, VT, and Ontario, Canada because they may be contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. Oysters may have been distributed to other states, as well.
Oysters contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria can cause illness if eaten raw, and potentially life-threatening illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing Campylobacter bacteria may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department.
People with Campylobacter spp. illness usually have diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea. These symptoms usually start 2 to 5 days after the person ingests Campylobacter bacteria and last about one week.
Sometimes Campylobacter illness causes complications, such as irritable bowel syndrome, temporary paralysis, and arthritis.
In people with weakened immune systems, such as those with a blood disorder, with AIDS, or receiving chemotherapy, Campylobacter bacteria occasionally spread to the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection.
On 7/11/2023, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR) notified the FDA of an outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses associated with the consumption of certain oysters from Recompense Cove, Freeport, ME. The ME DMR closed the CAS RC2 and CAS RCX harvest areas on 7/11/2024, recalled the oystersExternal Link Disclaimer harvested from those areas between 6/19/2024 and 7/16/2024, and notified receiving states of the recall. The oysters were distributed to CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA, VT, and Ontario, Canada and may have been distributed to other states, as well.
The FDA is issuing this alert advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat the recalled Recompense Cove, Freeport, ME oysters harvested between 6/19/2024 and 7/16/2024 from harvest sites CAS RC2 and CAS RCX and shipped to distributors in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA, VT, and Ontario, Canada due to potential Campylobacter bacteria contamination. These oysters have been associated with a Campylobacter illness outbreak in ME. The FDA is in communication with ME and other states on distribution of the oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and help state authorities as needed. As new information becomes available, the FDA will update the safety alert.
Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the potentially contaminated oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any recalled products by throwing them in the garbage or returning them to their distributor for destruction.
Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:
June 17, 2024
NOTICE OF RECALL – STATE OF MAINE
The Maine Department of Marine Resources is in the process of recalling oysters harvested from two
aquaculture sites in Casco Bay due to an illness outbreak caused by campylobacter bacteria.
On July 10, 2024 the Department of Marine Resources was notified of two cases of campylobacter
illness attributed to oyster consumption. All implicated leases were closed on July 11, 2024. Since this
time three more illnesses were reported and additional aquaculture leases were closed. The
investigation has resulted in two lease sites being identified as the sources. American/eastern oysters
from lease sites CAS RC2 and CAS RCX from June 19th through July 16th are being recalled. No other
species or harvest areas are implicated at this time. All dealers are instructed to follow their existing
recall procedures, report product recalled and companies involved to DMR; all product should be
destroyed.
Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Campylobacter infection affects 1.5 million people in the United States each year. Many cases go undiagnosed or unreported, as without specific laboratory tests due to severe symptoms, most people do not discover the true cause of their diarrheal illness.
Campylobacter infection, or campylobacteriosis, is caused by ingesting and becoming infected with the Campylobacter bacteria. It doesn’t take much of the bacteria to make someone sick. In fact, just a single drop of juice from raw chicken can contain enough of the harmful bacteria to make someone sick.
Most Campylobacter infections are the result of eating raw or undercooked poultry or eating something that touched it.
While chicken is one of the more common sources of Campylobacter infection, other foods are known to transmit campylobacteriosis as well.
In this case, Campylobacter was found in raw oysters.
While most normally healthy individuals infected with Campylobacter will completely recover within a week, certain serious or long-term health complications may result from Campylobacter infection.
According to the CDC, an estimated 5 to 20% of people with Campylobacter infection will develop irritable bowel syndrome for awhile. About 1 to 5% will develop a type of arthritis.
A more serious complication occurs in about 1 in 1000 reported Campylobacter cases – Guillain-Barrè syndrome (GBS). In GBS cases, the infection triggers the person’s immune system. The result is muscle weakness, or even paralysis that can last for weeks and often requires intensive medical care. While most people fully from GBS, permanent nerve damage is possible in some cases. An estimated 40% of GBS in the United States is linked to Campylobacter infection.
Common Campylobacter infection include diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Some people may also experience nausea and vomiting with diarrhea.
In most cases, symptoms begin around 2 to 5 days after ingesting Campylobacter bacteria and usually lasts about a week.
Most people with Campylobacter infection recover on their own without medical intervention and do not need antibiotics. For those at higher risk of severe illness, antibiotic treatment protocols may be given. Campylobacter bacteria do not respond to all antibiotics, so additional testing may be necessary to prescribe the correct antibiotic.
Higher risk categories include:
All people with Campylobacter infection should drink extra fluid as long as diarrheal symptoms persist to decrease risk of dehydration. If prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take them exactly as directed and inform your healthcare provider if you do not feel better. A different antibiotic may be necessary to treat your infection.
If you have become sick from consuming oysters, you may have questions about what you should do.
Do not continue consuming the Conoco View Dairy products you have in your home. Even if not everyone who has consumed the product has become sick, no one in the household should continue consuming it. If possible, retain packaging for traceback investigation purposes.
If your symptoms are serious, reach out to your healthcare provider. Get plenty of fluids to reduce risk of dehydration. Indicate you may be a part of a Campylobacter outbreak so appropriate diagnostic testing can be ordered.
You can assist in traceback investigation by notifying your local health department of your illness. Additional data can help them get a better idea of the scope of the outbreak and potentially narrow down production dates.
If you have become serious ill with Campylobacter infection from this Oysters Campylobacter Outbreak, you may have a legal case. The experienced Campylobacter lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help. Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or click here to email for a free consultation.
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