Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission

Raw oysters

Raw oysters harvested in Cancale, France

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that a local importer, Saison Food Service Limited, had imported raw oysters which were suspected to be contaminated with norovirus. The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow-up and the importer confirmed that it had imported the affected oysters from the Cancale, France.
• According to information provided by the importer, around 5 kilograms of the affected oysters were sold in Hong Kong and a recall has been initiated according to the CFS' advice.

• For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of all raw oysters harvested in Cancale, France.  
• The CFS will inform the French authorities of the import suspension and notify the local trade.  
• The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

• Stop selling the affected product.

• Regardless of the season or the region in which the oysters are harvested, consuming oysters, particularly raw or partially cooked ones, carries an inherent food safety risk..
• Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.
• Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2537 8080 during office hours to enquire about the recall.

The CFS press release