Oysters and a Virus: A Food Event Gone Wrong

This: you're at a fancy food event in LA, rubbing shoulders with the city's top chefs. You enjoy some raw oysters, and life is good. But then, about 12 to 48 hours later, you’re hit with a nasty stomach bug. Unfortunately, this wasn’t just a case of bad luck for around 80 people who attended the Los Angeles Times "101 Best Restaurants" event. Health officials are now investigating a norovirus outbreak linked to those raw oysters. The oysters in question, Fanny Bay Select and Fanny Bay XS oysters from Pacific Northwest Shellfish Co. , were harvested from British Columbia. They were recalled on December 13 after people started getting sick. The California Department of Health warned restaurants and retailers in 14 states and D. C. not to serve or sell oysters from the same area.Norovirus is no joke. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms. It's actually the most common foodborne illness in the U. S. How does it get into oysters? Well, when sewage gets into the ocean, oysters and other shellfish can absorb the virus. The Los Angeles County Department of Health is still investigating the outbreak. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times had a spokesperson who said they take food safety seriously and had protocols in place for the event.