CFIA Warns Consumers Against Pacific Rim Oysters

Submitted by Gene Rickman on Sat, 10/02/2010 - 12:16 Health TNM Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has urged the consumers to steer clear of Pacific Rim oysters as they are suspected to contain norovirus.
In the previous week also, CFIA issued a warning about Effingham extra small raw oysters that were processed at Albion Fisheries and Sea World Fisheries in Vancouver.
The tainted Pacific Rim Petite raw oysters are from the lot numbers 1091501 and 1092204. The original lot numbers may not be available, as many oysters have already been dispatched to restaurants and several retail outlets.
The CFIA had also said that oysters contaminated with food-borne pathogens may look or smell fresh, so the consumers should be careful while eating the oysters. A person may suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, neck stiffness, and dizziness, if he/she consumes the contaminated oysters.
The most vulnerable people are young children, pregnant women, and elderly people with weak immune system.
In order to inquire about the contaminated product, the consumers can contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.
The B. C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says that in order to kill the virus, it is very essential to cook the oysters at an internal temperature of 90 C.
Norovirus generally spreads from one person to another person and oysters can carry the virus, if they are contaminated by waste water carried away in sewers and drains.