Staff Reports
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) reported on Tuesday that eight cases of Salmonella in three states were linked to raw oysters harvested in Cedar Key.
In an FDOH release, the state health departments in Georgia and Alabama detected Salmonella from raw oysters harvested in over the past three months in Cedar Key. The eight cases were found in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services closed shellfish harvesting in the Cedar Key area (FL-3012) for wild oysters along with initiating a recall of wild oysters harvested between Dec. 16, 2022, and Feb. 24 and are advising people to not eat any oysters included during this timeframe.
The FDOH recommends individuals be aware of the elevated risk of illness associated with raw oyster consumption. Food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis.
The symptoms of salmonellosis include abdominal cramps, fever and diarrhea within 12 to 72 hours after eating a contaminated product.
Most people recover without treatment, but in rare circumstances, the infection and leads to a more severe illness and require hospitalization. Higher risk individuals can include older adults, pregnant women, infants and immunocompromised people who should seek medical attention if symptoms arise.
For more information regarding this recall, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website at https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Aquaculture.