FDA Recalls Korean Whole Oysters Due to Potential Water Pollution
Mitsui Foods Inc. is recalling two brands of whole oysters from Korea because Korean waters may be polluted. Consumers should stop eating these products.
The agency’s classification
FDA (Food): Class III
Class III is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 2/5 (Moderate).
Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Our severity reasoning: The recall is classified as FDA Class III, which indicates the product is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences. The hazard is theoretical due to potential water pollution, with no reported illnesses.
Plain-English summary
Mitsui Foods Inc. is recalling two brands of whole oysters: Empress Whole Oysters and Premium Quality Private Selection Whole Oysters. These products are 8-ounce packages distributed by Mitsui Foods Inc. and Inter-American Products, Inc., respectively. The recall involves 20,074 cases of Empress products and 77,437 Private Select products, which were distributed nationwide.
The recall is being conducted because Korean shellfish imports were blocked by the United States as of May 1 due to potential pollution in Korean waters. The FDA removed all Korean certified shippers of molluscan shellfish from the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List. This action was taken to prevent the distribution of potentially contaminated shellfish.
Consumers who have purchased these specific products should stop eating them. Food distributors, retailers, and food service operators are instructed to remove all fresh and frozen Korean shellfish from sale or service. The affected lot numbers are listed in the official recall notice.
The recalled product
- Product
- Whole Oysters: 1) Empress Whole Oysters, NET WT 8 OZ. Distributed By Mitsui Foods Inc. Norwood NJ 07648 Product of Korea, UPC 7360000719. 2) Premium Quality Private Selection Whole Oysters, NET WT 8 OZ. Distributed By Inter-American Products, Inc. Cincinnati, OH 45202.…
- Manufacturer
- Mitsui Foods Inc
- Category
- Food — Shellfish
- Hazard
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Lot numbers (20)
- Lot Numbers: 405046-006
- 405046-007
- 406639-005
- 406670-004
- 406716-001
- 406781-004
- 407995-001
- 407995-003
- 408080-001
- 408080-002
- 406443-001
- 406639-002
- 406639-004
- 406777-001
- 406780-001
- 406780-003
- 406781-003
- 406639-001
- 406639-003
- 406639-006
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
Part of a larger recall action
This product is one of 2 recalled by Mitsui Foods Inc under a single FDA (Food) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.
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