At least 80 people have fallen ill after eating raw oysters at an event celebrating the top restaurants in Los Angeles, it has emerged.
The oysters were served at the 101 Best Restaurants event at the Hollywood Palladium on December 3, which was attended by hundreds of guests.
San Francisco company S&M Shellfish Co. has issued an urgent oyster recall after confirming there had been multiple illnesses due to norovirus contamination.
The products included in the recall were harvested in in British Columbia, Canada between December 1 and 9, and sold under the names Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi Oysters.
The affected oysters were distributed to 15 states across the country, prompting the Food and Drug Administration to issue a warning to restaurants, retailers and consumers not to sell or eat the potentially contaminated products.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus – commonly referred to as the ‘stomach flu’ – that causes vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the US.
Patrons got sick after the lavish restaurant event, which cost between $264 for general admission and upwards of $600 for VIP tickets, have reported symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting, according to the LA Times.
Symptoms typically develop between 12 and 46 hours after exposure and can last up to three days. However, the CDC warns that people infected with norovirus can still spread the illness a few days after feeling better.
The oysters were supplied to the event by Fanny Bay Oysters and sourced by Santa Monica Seafood, which sponsored the event.
They were then provided to one of the restaurants that had been featured in the 101 Best Restaurants list, The LA Times reports.
The affected oysters were distributed to several restaurants and businesses across California. They were also distributed in Arizona, Colorado, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Consumers can identified products included in the recall by the following information printed on the shellfish Tag:
The pack date of the oysters was listed as November 25 or later, the recall notice, which was issued on December 13, added.
S&M Shellfish Co. said in the notice: ‘This product needs to be immediately stopped from consumption, distribution of any kind.’
The company advised the oysters need to be ‘returned to S&M Shellfish Co. or segregated and labeled NOT SAFE, DON’T TOUCH and/or to be DESTROYED under the supervision of the department of health or official from the local health jurisdiction immediately.’
Santa Monica Seafood, which supplied oysters for the event, told ABC News it is ‘aware of the ongoing investigation into the recent food illness outbreak linked to oysters served’.
The company said it is cooperating with the public health department’s investigation, adding: ‘There is no evidence to suggest mishandling at any point in the supply chain, including by Santa Monica Seafood or any of the restaurants participating in the LA Times event.’
Hillary Manning, a spokesperson for the LA Times, claimed that all safety protocols were followed at the 101 Best Restaurants event.
She told the newspaper that, based on a LA County health department inspection, event organizers ‘were in compliance with all relevant safety standards’.
‘We have produced culinary events for many years and take food safety very seriously,’ Manning said. ‘We also know the care that each chef and restaurant takes in preparing and serving food to our community.’