NC Impacted by Texas Oyster Recall; Illnesses Reported

North Carolina -- December 15, 2022:  All oysters, both whole and shucked, taken in the TX1 area of southern
Galveston Bay between November 17, 2022,

and December 7, 2022, are being recalled. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has
announced that this recall may affect North Carolina restaurants and shops.

North Carolinians who ate the recalled oysters have reported becoming sick with gastroenteritis, and the state's
Department of Health and Human Services has heard about it. Numerous incidents have been reported across the
country. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the North Carolina Department
of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) have been collaborating with county and municipal health departments to inform restaurants of the recall, have them dispose of the affected product, and collect data on any reported illnesses.

If you bought oysters in Texas after November 17 and want to know if they were harvested in the TX1 area, check the packaging. In the case of unpackaged oysters, the purchaser must inquire further from the vendor as to the origin  of
the product. In order for eateries to learn more about where their oysters come from, they need get in touch with their distributor. Don't eat any oysters from TX1.

Oysters pose a health danger if eaten uncooked, minimally cooked, or undercooked. There is a possibility that some viruses discovered in oysters could remain viable even after being cooked. There is an increased danger for pregnant women, the elderly, and those with impaired immune systems.

If you recently ate oysters and are now having symptoms like fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, chills, and a headache, you should visit a doctor immediately. Please notify your local health authority if you or a loved one have become ill after eating oysters.

WNCTIMES by Marjorie Farrington