FDA's Oyster Recall Hits Restaurants and Stores in 10 States Before Valentine's Day

Since many people believe that oysters are an aphrodisiac, they have long been associated with romance. That is why enjoying oysters has been a popular Valentine's Day option for a long time. However, anyone who is planning to consume them over this year's holiday should be aware of why the FDA just issued an urgent oyster warning across 10 states before it ruins their night.

Valentine's Day Date Night: Why Your Oysters Might Be Risky

On February 12, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement about specific lots of oysters that shouldn't be consumed. According to the agency, oysters harvested by Stellar Bay Shellfish Ltd. in British Columbia, Canada, could be contaminated with norovirus. The FDA issued the notice after the Washington Department of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health separately notified the FDA of "a norovirus-like illness outbreak."

Despite the oyseters being harvested in Canada, the issue could have major effects on many Americans. According to the FDA, the potentially norovirus-contaminated oysters may have been sent to 10 states.

U.S. States Where the Potentially Contaminated Oysters Were Sent:

• California (CA)
• Colorado (CO)
• Florida (FL)
• Hawai’i (HI)
• Illinois (IL)
• Maryland (MD)
• Nevada (NV)
• New York (NY)
• Pennsylvania (PA)
• Washington (WA)

Which Oysters Are Affected?

The FDA's advisory is related to oysters from harvest area BC 17-20 (Nanoose Bay) on that were gathered on December 30, 2025, January 20, 2026, January 26, 2026, and January 29, 2026. The potentially contaminated oysters are being sold under the brands Kusshi, Chrome Point, Stellar Bay, and Stellar Bay Gold. All affected lots carry the tag identifier CLF #1401656.

What Retailers, Restaurants, and Consumers Should Do:

For the owners of the restaurants and stores that could have been shipped the oysters, they are being advised to stop selling them immediately and throw them in the trash. Furthermore, the FDA is instructing that any hands, utensils, or surfaces that may have come into contact with the oysters be very thoroughly washed. Similarly, any prep areas or equipment needs to be safely sanitized.

Consumers who have these oysters should discard them immediately and thoroughly clean any surfaces or utensils that touched them. Anyone who believes they may have consumed them needs to watch for symptoms within 12 to 48 hours and contact their medical provider or a hospital if they appear.

Symptoms of Norovirus Infection

When couples eat oysters together on Valentine's Day, they typically want to have a romantic night. However, if they contract norovirus from their food, that is going to be the furthest thing from what they experience.

As part of the FDA's statement on the oyster contamination risk, the agency described the brutal symptoms that norovirus causes in sufferers. Those symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, headache, body aches, and stomach pain.

Separately, a New York Times article once described how severe the vomiting from that infection can be in a way that communicated why people should do everything they can to avoid the virus. "Vomiting — particularly projectile vomiting — is a hallmark symptom of a norovirus infection."