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SALMONELLA OUTBREAKRAW OYSTERS

Little Wicomico Oysters Recall 2026: Salmonella, 16 States and DC, 28 Sick

Raw oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company in Virginia are linked to a Salmonella outbreak. As of October 30, 2026, 28 people are sick and 5 were hospitalized. The recalled oysters are past their shelf life. If you froze oyster meat, check it before you eat it.

By DeJuan Tartt & Ahnjonee Tartt · Published · Fact-checked against CDC and FDA records

Six raw oysters on the half shell on crushed ice on a white plate, with two lemon wedges, on a wooden table.
Raw oysters. Not the recalled product.

Check your freezer for this one.

Raw whole (shellstock) oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP), harvested from the Little Wicomico River, Virginia, September 18 to October 8, 2026. Fresh oysters from this recall are past their shelf life. If you froze oyster meat, check whether it's from this recall. If it is, don't eat it. Throw it away or return it.

On this page
28
people sick
13
states where they live
5
hospitalized
0
deaths

The short version

  • Raw whole (shellstock) oysters harvested by Little Wicomico Oyster Company from the Little Wicomico River in Virginia are linked to a Salmonella outbreak.
  • As of October 30, 2026, 28 people in 13 states are sick. Five were hospitalized. No one has died.
  • The company recalled oysters harvested September 18 through October 8, 2026, on October 9.
  • The oysters went to restaurants and retailers in 16 states and Washington, DC, and may have gone further.
  • The recalled oysters are past their shelf life. The main thing to check now is frozen oyster meat.
  • Oysters from other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall.

What happened in the Little Wicomico oysters recall

On October 9, 2026, Little Wicomico Oyster Company recalled oysters from the river. The recall covers oysters harvested September 18 to October 8. It was voluntary. The company contacted its customers.

The same day, the Virginia Department of Health temporarily closed the river to shellfish harvesting. The company stopped harvesting there.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture identified the outbreak tied to these oysters. CDC and FDA first posted it on October 19, 2026. Then, 27 people were sick. CDC counted 12 states.

On October 30, both agencies updated their pages to 28 sick. CDC counts 13 states.

The germ is Salmonella Telelkebir. Illnesses started from May 29, 2026, to October 6, 2026. Some of those start dates come before the recalled harvest dates. CDC doesn't explain the gap, so we don't either.

Of 14 people interviewed, 11 reported eating raw oysters. That's 79%. In CDC's FoodNet Population Survey, 1.6% of people report eating raw oysters.

Virginia tested oysters from the harvest areas. They tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing is a lab test that reads the germ's DNA. It showed some matched the outbreak strain.

Pennsylvania sampled oysters from a distributor that supplied restaurants where sick people ate raw oysters. Those oysters were from Little Wicomico Oyster Company. A different strain, Salmonella Litchfield, turned up. It didn't match any sick people.

Where sick people live

Sick people live in 13 states. Pennsylvania has the most, with 8 cases.

States on CDC's list: CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MI, NJ, NY, PA, VA.

Colorado 2, Connecticut 1, Florida 1, Illinois 1, Indiana 2, Iowa 1, Kentucky 1, Maryland 2, Michigan 1, New Jersey 1, New York 4, Pennsylvania 8, Virginia 3.

Source: CDC, October 30, 2026.

The oysters themselves went further. FDA says they went to restaurants and retailers in 16 states and Washington, DC. FDA adds they "may have been further distributed."

Where the oysters went, per FDA: CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TX, VA.

Timeline

  1. May 29, 2026
    First illness starts (CDC)
  2. September 18, 2026
    Recalled harvest dates begin (CDC)
  3. October 6, 2026
    Latest illness start so far (CDC)
  4. October 8, 2026
    Recalled harvest dates end (CDC)
  5. October 9, 2026
    Company recalls the oysters; Virginia closes the harvest area (CDC, FDA)
  6. October 19, 2026
    CDC and FDA post the outbreak, 27 sick; CDC counts 12 states (CDC, FDA)
  7. October 30, 2026
    Update: 28 sick; CDC counts 13 states (CDC, FDA)

What "linked to" means here

Neither agency gives this recall a class. So here's what the link rests on.

CDC says three kinds of data point to these oysters. Epidemiologic data, which includes what sick people ate. Laboratory data, which means the germ found in oysters and in people. And traceback data, which means where the oysters came from.

Together, CDC says, they show these oysters made people sick.

CDC also says the true number of sick people is likely much higher. Many people get better without seeing a doctor, so they aren't tested. Linking a sick person to an outbreak usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. CDC's investigation is still open.

Recalled product

Little Wicomico Oyster Company (recall started October 9, 2026)

The recall covers one product from one harvest area. Here's what the agencies list:

Little Wicomico Oyster Company (recall started October 9, 2026)
ProductCompany and shipper numberHarvest areaHarvest dates
Whole (shellstock) oystersLittle Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP)Little Wicomico River, VA and Little Wicomico River Lower, VASeptember 18, 2026, through October 8, 2026

Oysters harvested from other Virginia growing areas are not part of this recall.

What to do if you have the recalled oysters

Start with the freezer. The recalled oysters are past their shelf life and should no longer be for sale. CDC says if you froze oyster meat, check whether it's part of the recall. If it is, don't eat it; throw it away or return it.

FDA says the same for anyone who bought and froze them. Throw them away, or contact your distributor to arrange destruction. Neither agency lists a company phone number.

Then clean up. Wash anything that may have touched the oysters. Use hot soapy water, or run it through a dishwasher. FDA says to clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched them.

FDA notes that food with Salmonella "may look, smell, and taste normal."

Do you run a restaurant or store? If you froze oyster meat, check whether it's part of the recall. Don't sell or serve it. Wash and sanitize surfaces.

Did you already eat it? FDA says to contact a health care provider if you ate them or have symptoms.

Salmonella: what to know

Salmonella is a germ that can make people sick. Most people get diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

CDC says symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the germ. Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days. FDA's page puts the start at 12 to 72 hours after eating. It says illness lasts four to seven days.

Some people can get sicker. CDC names three groups. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. They may need medical treatment or a hospital stay.

CDC says to call a healthcare provider right away for any of these:

  • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
  • Diarrhea for more than 2 days that is not improving
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • So much vomiting you can't keep liquids down
  • Signs of dehydration: not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up

Also linked to Salmonella: jalapeño peppers and sprouting seeds.

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Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters (Food Safety Alert). Updated October 30, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/oysters-10-26/index.html
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, October 2026. Latest update October 30, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/oysters-10-26/investigation.html
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where People Got Sick: Salmonella Outbreak, October 2026. October 30, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/oysters-10-26/locations.html
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safety Alert for Salmonella: Oysters from Little Wicomico River, Virginia. Content current as of October 30, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/safety-alert-salmonella-oysters-little-wicomico-river-virginia

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Recall information comes from the CDC and FDA pages listed under Sources. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.