Health officials are investigating a possible norovirus outbreak after dozens of people became ill after eating raw oysters at the LA Times’ 101 Best Restaurants event.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says more than 80 people who attended the annual event, which features some of the area’s most well-known and popular restaurants, became sick with symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. I confirmed that I had reported it.
A public health spokesperson said the illnesses appear to be linked to raw oysters served at the Dec. 3 event that have since been recalled.
Reports of dozens of illnesses from the event were announced just days before the California Department of Public Health issued a warning on Dec. 13 not to eat raw oysters from British Columbia. US Food and Drug Administration published since then Restaurants and retailers have been warned not to sell oysters due to the possibility of norovirus contamination. The warning affected restaurants and retailers in multiple states, and the company that supplied the oysters issued a warning. emergency recallwarns consumers not to eat it.
The oysters were sourced from Fannie Bay Oysters, said Los Angeles Times spokeswoman Hilary Manning. Manning said the oysters were sourced from the event’s sponsor, Santa Monica Seafood Co., and provided to one of the restaurants featured on the 101 Best Restaurants list.
News of the possible outbreak was first reported by: LA Taco.
As with previous events hosted by the Los Angeles Times, Manning said all safety protocols were followed at this event.
“We have been producing culinary events for many years and take food safety very seriously,” she wrote in an email. “As with each of our events, we have protocols in place and adhered to all relevant safety standards based on inspection by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. We also know that each chef and restaurant takes great care in preparing and serving their food to the community.”
Norovirus does not affect the taste, smell or appearance of oysters, so there is no way for vendors or restaurants to detect it without special testing.
The Los Angeles Times first learned on Dec. 11 that some attendees at the event had fallen ill. Company officials, who did not know the cause, referred people to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. On Dec. 12, the Department of Public Health contacted the Times about a group of people who had reported getting sick.
Some people who attended the event reported that they did not see any notices or warnings from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Jamie Clegg, who bought two tickets to the event, said he never received an email notification.
“I never received anything unless it accidentally went to spam,” he says.
He said he went to the event with a friend employed by the Los Angeles Times, who received an email from county health officials informing them of the cluster of infections and asking them to fill out an anonymous survey. That’s what it means.
The oysters served on Dec. 3 are part of the recalled Fanny Bay Select and Fanny Bay XS oysters from Pacific Northwest Shellfish that were packaged on Nov. 25, according to a county public health spokesperson. It was a club.
The outbreak is still under investigation.
The FDA says symptoms may appear for 12 to 48 hours after contracting the virus.
