FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Oysters from British Columbia, Canada Harvest Area BC 17-20 CLF #1401656 Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

February 12, 2026

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 originally harvested by Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd. from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656 with original harvest date(s) of 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026.
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 original harvest date(s) of 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026.

Product

Certain oysters from Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd., Canada, with original harvest dates of 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026, 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.

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 original harvest dates of 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026 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.

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.

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 original 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 original harvest dates of 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026 from British Columbia, Canada harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) CLF #1401656.

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 original harvest dates of 12/30/2025, 1/20/2026, 1/26/2026, and 1/29/2026 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.

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.

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.

To report a complaint or adverse event, visit Get Assistance from the FDA Human Food Program.