Import and sale of raw oysters harvested in Penn Cove, Washington State, US prohibited with immediate effect

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 2) that the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters harvested in Penn Cove, Washington State, the United States (US), has been prohibited with immediate effect.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS was notified by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of a food poisoning case which involved consumption of raw oysters at a restaurant in Causeway Bay. The stool specimen of one of the affected persons tested positive for norovirus upon laboratory testing. The CFS has conducted follow-up investigation at the restaurant concerned and its food supplier. Investigation showed that no remaining stock of the affected batch of raw oysters was found on either premises. According to the information provided by the food supplier concerned, the affected raw oysters were harvested in Penn Cove, Washington State, US. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately banned the import into and sale within Hong Kong of all raw oysters harvested from the area."

Furthermore, based on the distribution information provided by the food supplier, the CFS has contacted another restaurant which had purchased the same batch of raw oysters and requested it to stop supplying and selling them immediately. The restaurant concerned confirmed that it did not have any stock of the suspect raw oysters.

The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens (such as norovirus), chemical contaminants or natural toxins can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Regardless of the season or the region in which the oysters are harvested, consuming oysters, particularly raw or partially cooked ones, carries an inherent food safety risk. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

The CFS has informed the US authorities of the import ban and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Wednesday, March 2, 2016