(cdph.ca.gov) On August 10, 2012, the California Department of Public Health issued a consumer warning against eating shucked and in-shell raw oysters from Drakes Bay Oyster Co. due to possible contamination with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that can cause serious illness. The CDPH advises consumers who purchased the affected oyster products to immediately discard them.
As of August 10, three illnesses in California were linked to the products. Due to a possible health risk, Drakes Bay Oyster Co. (Inverness, CA oyster grower) initiated a voluntary 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 V. parahaemolyticus infection include vomiting, abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, headache, fever, and chills. Most infected people recover without treatment in a few days. Severe illness and death from V. parahaemolyticus infection is rare, but can occur with chronic liver disease, cancer, or other conditions that weaken the immune system. CDPH recommends that consumers experiencing any ill effects after consuming these products should consult their health care provider.