Oyster recall underway at Wegmans

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has issued a recall for a few varieties of oysters recently sold in Wegmans supermarkets due to possible contamination. 

Blue Point Cape Neddick oysters with the UPC codes of 2-06146-00000, 2-06152-00000, and 2-06153-00000 may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a naturally-occuring bacterium that could cause foodborne illness if the oysters are consumed without cooking, according to release from the supermarket.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the following information about the bacterium: 

When ingested, V. parahaemolyticus causes watery diarrhea often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion. Illness is usually self-limited and lasts 3 days. Severe disease is rare and occurs more commonly in persons with weakened immune systems. V. parahaemolyticus can also cause an infection of the skin when an open wound is exposed to warm seawater.

The recalled oysters were sold in Wegmans seafood departments throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast between June 13, 2013 and August 5, 2013 and may have also been sold in Wegmans restaurants, food bars, and pubs at those stores during that time frame, the release states. 

Locally, in New Jersey, impacted stores include Mount Laurel, Ocean, Cherry Hill, Woodbridge, Princeton, Manalapan, and Bridgewater. In Pennsylvania, stores include Warrington, Collegeville, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Erie Peach Street, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Allentown, Bethlehem, and State College. 

Wegmans will issue a full refund for all oysters. 

For more information, contact Wegmans Consumer Affairs at 1-855-934-3663, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m through 5 p.m.