The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to New York consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, raw oysters harvested from the Groton Approved Area in New London County, Connecticut, due to the possible contamination of Salmonella and E. coli.
FDA officials announced on Tuesday, September 5 that the oysters in question were harvested between Monday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 30. The potentially contaminated oysters were sent to distributors, retailers and restaurants in numerous states in addition to New York, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The area that the oysters were originally harvested from will remain inactive until the source of the possible contamination is discovered and addressed, officials say.
Contaminated oysters can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with Salmonella and E. coli may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of salmonellosis or E. coli should contact their healthcare provider, who should report their symptoms to their local Health Department.