FDA safety alert · Updated October 30, 2026 · Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) · Last updated
Are Little Wicomico River oysters recalled?
Yes — shellstock oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP). FDA advises consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, serve, or sell recalled whole oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River (including Little Wicomico River Lower), Virginia, September 18 through October 8, 2026, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella (outbreak strain Salmonella Telelkebir). The October 30, 2026 FDA update raises the investigated cluster from 27 to 28 illnesses (one additional since Oct 19) and lists distribution to restaurants/retailers in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TX, VA (18 jurisdictions; may have been further distributed). Recalled oysters should no longer be available for sale and are past shelf life; if frozen, dispose or contact the distributor for destruction.
Last updated: · Primary: FDA safety alert (current update Oct 30, 2026; prior Oct 19, 2026). CDC investigation update (Oct 30, 2026) cross-checked for hospitalizations/deaths. No FDA recall number, UPC, lot code, or unit quantity disclosed — this page does not invent those fields.
- Firm
- VA-1421-SP
- Harvest
- Sep 18–Oct 8, 2026
- Product
- whole shellstock oysters
- Hazard
- Salmonella Telelkebir
- Illnesses (FDA)
- 28 (was 27)
- CDC (Oct 30)
- 28 cases / 5 hosp / 0 deaths
- Distribution
- 18 jurisdictions (+DE)
- Remedy
- do not eat/sell; dispose if frozen
Identify product ↓ · Oct 30 revision ↓ · What to do ↓
Which oysters are recalled
Per FDA: recalled whole (shellstock) oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) harvested in the Little Wicomico River from September 18 through October 8, 2026. FDA's investigation text also refers to harvest from Little Wicomico River or Little Wicomico River, Lower.
| Firm / facility ID | Product | Harvest area | Harvest dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) | Whole (shellstock) oysters | Little Wicomico River / Little Wicomico River Lower, VA | September 18 through October 8, 2026 |
- FDA and CDC identify the firm, harvest area, and harvest window — not lot codes, UPCs, or pack sizes. This page leaves those blank rather than inventing them.
- Oysters harvested from other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall (FDA).
- Recalled oysters should no longer be available for sale and are past shelf life (FDA).
October 30, 2026 revision (27 → 28; +DE)
FDA first updated this safety alert on October 19, 2026 describing a cluster of 27 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses. The October 30, 2026 current update says one additional illness has been reported since October 19, bringing the cluster to 28 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses being investigated by CDC, FDA, and state authorities. FDA continues to partner with CDC and assist states as needed.
Distribution wording also changed: the Oct 19 list omitted Delaware (DE). The Oct 30 FDA list is restaurants and retailers in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TX, VA, and may have been further distributed.
Independently, CDC's investigation update dated October 30, 2026 reports 28 cases (1 new), 5 hospitalizations, 0 deaths, and 13 states (1 new). FDA's Oct 30 text states the 28-illness figure but does not restate hospitalizations or deaths — this page attributes hosp/death counts to CDC only.
Salmonella risk
FDA: food containing Salmonella may look, smell, and taste normal. Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food; symptoms usually last four to seven days and include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
This page is not medical advice. If you might have eaten recalled oysters or have symptoms, contact a health care provider (FDA).
What to do (FDA wording)
- Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP).
- Recalled oysters should no longer be available for sale and are past shelf life.
- If you purchased recalled oysters harvested September 18 through October 8, 2026 and froze them, dispose of potentially contaminated products or contact your distributor to arrange for destruction.
- Carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched the product. Follow FDA's safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce cross-contamination risk.
- Consumers who might have consumed this product or who have symptoms should contact their health care provider.
More: what to do with a recalled product · search FDA food recalls · latest food recalls
Where product was sold
FDA (Oct 30 current distribution): recalled oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), District of Columbia (DC), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Maryland (MD), Missouri (MO), North Carolina (NC), New Jersey (NJ), Nevada (NV), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), Texas (TX), and Virginia (VA), and may have been further distributed. Quantity was not disclosed.
Harvest area status
Little Wicomico Oyster Company has stopped harvesting from the affected area and is cooperating with public health officials (FDA). The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) temporarily closed Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting, effective October 9, 2026 (FDA). VDH is collecting oyster samples for Salmonella testing and whole genome sequencing; FDA points to VDH's website and CDC's food safety alert for sample-result updates.
Not other Virginia oyster harvest areas
Autocomplete for “Virginia oyster recall” or “Salmonella oysters” may surface other harvest areas or older outbreaks. Per FDA, oysters harvested from other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall. This page covers only Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) shellstock from the Little Wicomico River / Lower harvest window above.
Official sources
- FDA safety alert: Salmonella in oysters from Little Wicomico River, Virginia (current update Oct. 30, 2026; prior update Oct. 19, 2026) — Checked: November 3, 2026
- CDC investigation update: Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters, October 2026 (updated Oct. 30, 2026) — Checked: November 3, 2026
- CDC outbreak home: Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters (October 2026) — Checked: November 3, 2026
No separate FDA recall number / openFDA H-number, UPC, lot code, or unit quantity appears on the FDA safety alert used for this page. When those fields are published, this page should be updated — until then they stay blank.
Not affiliated with FDA, CDC, VDH, or Little Wicomico Oyster Company.
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FAQ
Are Little Wicomico River oysters recalled?
Yes. Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) recalled whole (shellstock) oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River / Little Wicomico River Lower, Virginia, from September 18 through October 8, 2026, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. FDA posted a safety alert and updated it on October 30, 2026.
What changed in the October 30, 2026 FDA update?
FDA says the Salmonella Telelkebir cluster rose from 27 illnesses (Oct 19 update) to 28 illnesses — one additional illness since October 19. The Oct 30 distribution list also includes Delaware (DE), which was omitted from the Oct 19 list. FDA continues investigating with CDC and states.
Which facility and harvest window?
Facility: Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP). Product: whole (shellstock) oysters harvested in the Little Wicomico River from September 18 through October 8, 2026. FDA and CDC also name Little Wicomico River Lower. Other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall.
Were lot codes, UPCs, or unit quantities published?
No. FDA and CDC identify the firm (VA-1421-SP), harvest area, and harvest dates. This page does not invent lot codes, UPCs, an FDA recall/H-number, or a unit quantity.
How many illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths?
FDA Oct 30: cluster of 28 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses (one new since Oct 19); FDA does not restate hospitalizations or deaths in that update. CDC investigation update dated Oct 30, 2026: 28 cases (1 new), 5 hospitalizations, 0 deaths, across 13 states (1 new).
Where were the oysters distributed?
FDA Oct 30: restaurants and retailers in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TX, and VA (18 jurisdictions), and may have been further distributed.
What should consumers and restaurants do?
FDA: do not eat, serve, or sell the recalled oysters. Recalled oysters should no longer be available for sale and are past shelf life. If you froze them, dispose of them or contact your distributor to arrange for destruction. Clean and sanitize surfaces or containers they touched. Contact a health care provider if you have symptoms.
Is the harvest area still closed?
Yes per FDA: the Virginia Department of Health temporarily closed Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting effective October 9, 2026. Little Wicomico Oyster Company stopped harvesting from the affected area. Oysters from other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall.
Update log
- Nov 3, 2026 — Shipped landing from FDA safety alert (Oct 30 current / Oct 19 prior) + CDC investigation update (Oct 30). Lead facts: 28 illnesses, DE added to distribution, VA-1421-SP, harvest Sep 18–Oct 8, 2026, do-not-eat/sell, frozen dispose. No invented lot/UPC/H-number/quantity. Prior Oct 23 daily / weekly CMS bodies that cited the older 27-case snapshot were left unchanged in place.