June 13, 2012

Maryland extends South Korean shellfish ban

As consumers should not eat any fresh, frozen, and processed products, Maryland state health officials are expanding a ban on shellfish from South Korea.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued the health advisory on Monday (June 11). It says it is based on updated information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and goes beyond one issued last month that warned only fresh and frozen products.

The advisory goes back two years for frozen shellfish and three years for canned shellfish. Crabs and shrimps are not part of the advisory.

The FDA pulled firms that transport Korean shellfish from its list of approved shippers on May 1 because of possible contamination with norovirus. It says there have been no cases of illness from eating Korean shellfish this year.