Pacific Northwest: Raw Oyster Advisory

The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to avoid eating raw oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest as a result of reports that some of the oysters recently harvested from that region were contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), a bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Until the threat of Vp from oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest has passed, consumers are advised to thoroughly cook oysters harvested from that area before eating. They also should thoroughly cook oysters if they are not certain of the oysters’ origin, or if they wish to further reduce their risk of infection from bacteria that may be found in raw oysters.

In recent months, there has been an unusual increase in bacterial illness associated with eating raw oysters from the Pacific Northwest. The illnesses are associated with the naturally occurring bacterium Vp, which is most prevalent during summer months when water temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are most favorable for its growth. While Vp can cause mild gastrointestinal disorders in healthy individuals, older persons and those with weak immune systems are at greater risk for serious more illness, such as septicemia (infection of the blood system).

[Source: FDA]

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