Frozen half-shell oysters from the Republic of Korea recalled due to potential norovirus contamination
FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Frozen, Raw, Half-shell Oysters from Republic of Korea Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus
Audience
• Restaurants and food retailers in Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Georgia (GA), Idaho (ID), Kansas (KS), Nevada (NV), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), and Washington (WA) that have purchased frozen, raw, half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025 and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK.
• Consumers in AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, NV, TX, UT, and WA who have purchased frozen, raw, half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025 and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK.
Product
• Certain frozen, raw, half-shell oysters from JBR KR-15-SP, harvested on Jan. 30, 2025, from harvest area Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The implicated products include Lot Code: B250130. The frozen, half-shell oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, NV, TX, UT, and WA and may have been distributed to other states as well.
• The photo below is included for reference as an example of a product tag/label that would be included on cartons of oysters with Lot Code: B250130.
Purpose
Khee Trading, Inc. (CA 911 RS) of Compton, CA has recalled frozen half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025 and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK because they may be contaminated with norovirus. The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of these frozen, raw, half-shell oysters that were shipped to distributors in AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, NV, TX, UT, and WA, and may have been distributed to other states as well.
Shellfish, such as 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 May 15, 2025, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified the FDA of an outbreak of norovirus illnesses associated with consumption of certain oysters from the Republic of Korea (ROK) with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the ROK on Jan. 30, 2025 and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK, and shipped to distributors in AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, NV, TX, UT, and WA. The product may have been distributed to other states as well. The product was recalled by the importer, Khee Trading Inc. (CA-911-. RS) of Compton, CA, on May 19, 2025.
FDA Actions
The FDA is issuing this alert advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat frozen, raw, half-shell oysters with Lot Code: B250130, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Jan. 30, 2025, and processed by JBR KR-15-SP in Tongyeong-si, ROK, and shipped to distributors in AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, NV, TX, UT, and WA due to possible norovirus contamination. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of the frozen, raw, half-shell 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, such as oysters, 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 Industry and Consumer Assistance.
Additional Information
• Notice of Illness Outbreaks, Shellfish Closures, Reopenings, & Recalls – ISSC
• The Symptoms of Norovirus | CDC
• About Handwashing as a Healthy Habit in the Kitchen | Clean Hands | CDC
Publix Super Markets, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food, produced by Bowman Andros LLC and distributed to Publix grocery stores in the company’s eight-state operating area. The product is sold in 4-ounce plastic pouches and has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.
Product Name: GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food, 4 oz
GTIN: 41415 – 00901
Best If Used By: 11/01/2025
This recall is being initiated as a result of routine sampling and is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves,” said Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous. “To date, there have been no reported cases of illness. Consumers who have purchased the product in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund. Publix customers with additional questions may call our customer care department toll-free at 1-800-242-1227 or visit our website at publix.com.”
Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 260,000 associates, currently operates 1,404 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. For 28 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken soup products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products contain wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with allergies to wheat are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.
The RTE chicken soup items were produced on April 10, 2025. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:
• 24-oz. plastic cups labeled “Signature SELECT Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice SOUP with White Meat Chicken” on the lid and labeled “Signature SELECT Chicken Corn CHOWDER with White Meat Chicken Smoke Flavor Added” on the side of the cup with a “BEST BY June 24 25” and lot code “8225 5100” printed on the bottom of the cup.
The products bear establishment number “P-46381” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail and distributor locations nationwide.
The problem was discovered by a retailer after a store employee identified “Signature SELECT Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice SOUP with White Meat Chicken” product bearing the correct top label but incorrect side label. The retailer reported the issue to the producing establishment, and the establishment notified FSIS.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to serve, sell, or consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Consumers with questions should contact Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST. Media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Albertsons Media Relations at [email protected].
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day by clicking Here.
Dinty Moore Beef Stew recalled due to potential wood pieces
Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The canned beef stew item was produced on February 4, 2025. The following product is subject to recall [view labels]:
• 20-oz. metal cans containing “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with “BEST BY FEB 2028” and lot code “T02045” printed on the can. The lot code may have an additional number at the end.
The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.
The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.
There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods Corporation at 800-523-4635 or [email protected].
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day by clicking Here.
