Many of us enjoy a dozen oysters on the half shell. It is a treat most people only have now and then. This fall, that treat has turned into a food safety concern across much of the country.
The FDA is telling consumers, restaurants and retailers not to eat, sell or serve raw oysters harvested by Little Wicomico Oyster Company in Virginia between September 18 and October 8, 2026.
The advisory, posted October 19, 2026, follows an outbreak of Salmonella Telelkebir, a strain of the bacteria that causes food poisoning.
The CDC counts 27 people sickened in 12 states so far. Five have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
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Virginia health officials report that Pennsylvania has the most illnesses, with eight cases. New York follows with four. Virginia has three.
Where the oysters went
The oysters came from Little Wicomico Oyster Company, carrying the lot code VA-1421-SP. They were shipped to restaurants and retailers in 15 states and the District of Columbia, and may have been passed further down the supply chain.
The jurisdictions that received the shipment include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland and Missouri. Also on the list are Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Publix was the only major grocer to publicly confirm it had received the oysters, according to the Miami Herald.
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The chain sold them under the James River Oysters brand. Anyone who still has these oysters at home should throw them out and not eat them.
Restaurants and food retailers that still hold the product should dispose of it or contact their distributor to arrange for destruction.
What Salmonella does to the body
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that cause food poisoning. Most people get sick 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing them.
The CDC says the usual signs are diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Most people recover without treatment, but some cases turn serious.
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The agency advises calling a doctor if you have a fever above 102°F along with diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea that lasts more than two days without getting better.
A doctor should also be contacted if vomiting makes it hard to keep liquids down, or if you notice signs of dehydration like little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing up.
Children under 5 are at higher risk of severe illness. Adults 65 and older face the same elevated risk, as do people with a weakened immune system.
Why Virginia closed the river
The Virginia Department of Health temporarily closed the Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting on October 9, 2026. State and federal investigators had tied the illnesses to that single harvest area.
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Oysters from other open Virginia growing areas are not affected by the recall.
Investigators sequenced the bacterial strain from sick people's samples and matched it back to the Virginia harvest. The river closure came first, and the full nationwide advisory followed ten days later.
The investigation is ongoing. Consumers with questions can call the Virginia Department of Health hotline at 877-829-4682 (Option 6), weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.