FDA Bans Korean Molluscan Shellfish

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 1 banned the import of all fresh or frozen molluscan shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, imported from Korea because they are considered potentially unsafe for consumption. The agency also asked retailers and foodservice operators to remove all products from the marketplace and warned consumers not to consume the molluscan shellfish.

FDA removed all Korean certified shippers of molluscan shellfish from the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL), following a comprehensive FDA evaluation that determined that the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) no longer meets the sanitation controls spelled out under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.

The agencys review of the KSSP found unacceptable water pollution levels in shellfish-growing areas, including the presence of human fecal waste; and detection of norovirus in shellfish-growing areas

The removal of Korean shellfish shippers from the ICSSL is intended to stop the import of molluscan shellfish harvested from polluted waters. Korean molluscan shellfish that entered the United States prior to May 1 and any product made with Korean molluscan shellfish are considered adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA recommends that food distributors, retailers, and food service operators remove from sale or service, all fresh, frozen, and processed Korean molluscan shellfish and any product subsequently made with them. FDA said Korean molluscan shellfish represents only a small fraction of the oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops sold in the United States. FDA is currently working to determine the distribution of the product. Distributors, retailers and foodservice operators can continue to receive molluscan shellfish from any of the other shellfish shippers listed in the ICSSL.