Skip to content

Menu

LexBlog, Inc. logo
NetworkSub-MenuBrowse by SubjectBrowse by PublisherJoin the NetworkGet StartedSubscribeSupportContact
Search
Close

Norovirus and Oysters a nausating combo

By Adriana Zimova on February 19, 2026
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn

Table of Contents

  • Audience
  • Product
  • Purpose
  • Symptoms of Norovirus
  • Summary of Problem and Scope
  • FDA Actions
  • Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers
  • Recommendations for Consumers

Link to Audience Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in California (CA), Colorado (CO), Florida (FL), Hawai’i (HI), Illinois (IL), Maryland (MD), Nevada (NV), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), and Washington (WA) that have purchased Kusshi, Chrome Point, Stellar Bay, or Stellar Bay Gold brand oysters harvested by Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd. from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 with harvest dates between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026.
  • Consumers in CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, MD, NV, NY, PA, and WA who have purchased Kusshi, Chrome Point, Stellar Bay, or Stellar Bay Gold brand oysters harvested by Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd. from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 with harvest dates between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026.

Link to Product Product

  • Certain oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada, with harvest dates between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026, from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656. The implicated products include Kusshi, Chrome Point, Stellar Bay, and Stellar Bay Gold brand oysters. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, MD, NV, NY, PA, and WA and may have been distributed to other states as well. 
  • The FDA is aware of additional raw oysters harvested from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 that consumers, restaurants, and retailers should avoid eating, serving, and selling due to potential contamination with norovirus. The product of concern includes all raw oysters harvested between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026 from BC 17-20 CLF #1401656 by Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada (previous harvest dates of concern were limited to 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026).

Link to Purpose Purpose

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada with harvest dates between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026 from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 and shipped to distributors in CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, MD, NV, NY, PA, and WA because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus 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. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

Link to Symptoms of Norovirus Symptoms of Norovirus

People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and body ache.

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Symptoms of dehydration include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.

If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call your healthcare provider.

Link to Summary of Problem and Scope Summary of Problem and Scope

On February 3, 2026, the Washington Department of Public Health advised the FDA of a norovirus-like illness outbreak associated with oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada with harvest dates of 12/30/2025 and 1/20/2026 from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656. On February 5, 2026, the California Department of Public Health advised the FDA of a recall of certain oysters due to norovirus-like illness reports. The recall is for oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada with harvest dates of 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026 from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656. Subsequently, additional illnesses consistent with norovirus, were reported and associated with oysters from BC 17-20 CLF#1401656 with harvest dates of 1/13/2026 and 1/29/2026. A recallExternal Link Disclaimer in Canada was issued for oysters from BC 17-20 CLF #1401656 with harvest dates of 1/28/2026 and 1/29/2026. 

Link to FDA Actions FDA Actions

The FDA is issuing this alert advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada with harvest dates between December 22, 2025 and February 4, 2026 from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 due to potential norovirus contamination. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of the oysters and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed. As new information becomes available, the FDA will update the safety alert.

Link to Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers Recommendations for Restaurants and Retailers

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the potentially contaminated oysters. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or contacting their distributor to arrange 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. Their employees should follow the steps below:

  • Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
  • Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
  • Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
  • Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

Link to Recommendations for Consumers Recommendations for Consumers

Consumers should not eat these potentially contaminated oysters.

Consumers who have symptoms of norovirus infection should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

Photo of Adriana Zimova Adriana Zimova

Adriana Zimova, JD, MPA, joined Marler Clark as a Litigation Attorney in October 2025.  Adriana earned her JD from Harvard Law School, cum laude, and her MPA in International Development from Harvard Kennedy School.

Following graduation from law school, Adriana joined Cleary…

Adriana Zimova, JD, MPA, joined Marler Clark as a Litigation Attorney in October 2025.  Adriana earned her JD from Harvard Law School, cum laude, and her MPA in International Development from Harvard Kennedy School.

Following graduation from law school, Adriana joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in Washington, DC, where she represented multi-national corporations in litigation and antitrust matters.  She later worked as a racial justice advocate, authoring a report for the Open Society Justice Initiative titled, Strategic Litigation Impacts: Roma School Desegregation, and co-directing a short advocacy video, Teaching Racism.  Adriana grew passionate about the intersection of food and public health during the time focused on her family.  Prior to joining Marler Clark, Adriana consulted on a potential high-impact public health litigation and co-authored a study on policies that regulate non-sugar sweeteners.

While at law school, Adriana served as a research assistant to Martha Minow, a former Dean of Harvard Law School, and was active on the International Law Journal and with the Harvard Human Rights Program.  She was also the recipient of the Dean’s Scholar Prize in three subjects.

In 2012, Adriana was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in Law & Policy.

Adriana was born in rural Slovakia.  She now resides on Bainbridge Island, WA, with her husband and two children.

Read more about Adriana ZimovaEmail
Show more Show less
  • Posted in:
    Food, Drug & Agriculture
  • Blog:
    Food Poison Journal
  • Organization:
    Marler Clark, Inc., PS
  • Article: View Original Source

Call us at 1-800-913-0988 or email sales@lexblog.com.

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter RSS
The Library at LexBlog
  • About LexBlog
  • The Field We Built
  • Library at LexBlog
  • Our Beliefs
  • Our Team
  • Contact LexBlog
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Get Started
  • Publishing Solutions
  • Compass
  • Submit a Request
  • Support Center
  • System Status
Copyright © 2026, LexBlog, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Law blog design & platform by LexBlog LexBlog Logo