California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a health alert, asking consumers not to eat shucked and in-shell raw oysters from Drakes Bay Oyster, an oyster grower based in California, as they may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that can cause serious illness.
Till date, three illnesses in California have been linked to the products. Following this, Drakes Bay Oyster Company, has initiated a voluntarily recall of the affected shucked and in-shell raw oyster products.
The shucked oysters are packaged under the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm label and sold in 9 ounce, 1-pint, 1-quart and half-gallon jars or tubs.
The affected shucked products are labeled with lot numbers 363 through 421. The lot number can be found on the top label of each jar or tub. The in-shell raw oysters are sold individually or in bags ranging in size from 1 dozen to 10 dozen.
In-shell raw oyster tags are marked with harvest dates ranging from July 17, 2012, through August 8, 2012.
Symptoms of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection include vomiting, abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, headache, fever, and chills.
