Health officials in Los Angeles are currently investigating a norovirus outbreak linked to an event showcasing the city’s top restaurants, where approximately 80 individuals fell ill after consuming raw oysters.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health reported that individuals fell ill following an event on December 3, leading to a recall of oysters.
According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, individuals who fell ill were present at the “101 Best Restaurants” event held at the Hollywood Palladium, a venue located on Sunset Boulevard.
The Times event is set to feature some of the city’s top chefs hailing from Michelin-starred restaurants, as announced by the newspaper in its promotional efforts.
The health department has announced a recall of Fanny Bay Select oysters and Fanny Bay XS oysters from Pacific Northwest Shellfish Co. These products have a pack date of November 25 or later.
A recall was officially announced on December 13. A recall notice issued by the California Department of Health has revealed that the oysters in question were harvested from various locations in British Columbia. The oysters were reported to be marketed under the brand names Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on December 18, advising restaurants and retailers across 14 states and the District of Columbia against serving or selling oysters recently harvested from certain areas of British Columbia due to concerns over potential norovirus contamination.
The Los Angeles County health department announced that it is actively pursuing an investigation into the ongoing outbreak.
Norovirus is responsible for inducing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Additional symptoms may encompass stomach pain, body aches, and fever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that symptoms typically manifest between 12 to 48 hours following exposure. The report indicates that it is the most prevalent foodborne illness in the United States.
The Washington State Department of Health has issued warnings regarding the illness, stating that oysters and other shellfish can absorb the virus when sewage contaminates the oceans, introducing the virus into the water where these shellfish reside.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Times did not respond immediately to a request for comment from NBC News late Friday afternoon. However, spokesperson Hillary Manning informed the Times in its own report that a Santa Monica shellfish company was responsible for sourcing the oysters, which were then provided to one of the restaurants.
