Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Recalled VA Oysters: What To Know

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Salmonella safety alert for oysters harvested and sold in Virginia in recent weeks.

Salmonella may have contaminated oysters harvested from Virginia's Little Wicomico River. The FDA warns people not to eat, serve or sell recalled oysters from the Little Wicomico Oyster Company because they may be contaminated with salmonella.

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The recalled oysters are whole (shellstock) oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company harvested in the Little Wicomico River from Sept. 18 through Oct. 8, 2026. Dispose of any of those oysters or products containing them.

The FDA warns that food containing salmonella may look, smell and taste normal.

So far, salmonella from the contaminated oysters has caused 27 illnesses and five hospitalizations, according to the CDC.

The FDA says the recalled oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in Virginia, as well as to California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, and might have been further distributed.

Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms usually appear within 12-72 hours of eating contaminated food and can last from four to seven days.

Elderly people, children under five years old and people with weakened immune systems are at risk of severe infections. Sometimes, salmonella can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious infections with long-lasting complications. Occasionally, it can be fatal.