Whatcom County residents who recently dined on oysters or clams at certain local establishments should check whether they consumed shellfish affected by a statewide food recall. The Washington State Department of Health has recalled oysters and clams commercially harvested from Mason County, Washington, between March 22 and April 9, 2026, due to possible norovirus contamination. Five people in Whatcom County have already confirmed illnesses linked to the recalled products.
The shellfish were harvested by Gomez Shellfish, LLC, based in Mason County, and shipped to retailers and restaurants across Oregon, California, and Washington state. Norovirus is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States, and raw or undercooked shellfish are a well-known transmission route. The bacteria and viral pathogens that cause illness can survive in shellfish tissue even when the animals appear and smell normal.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services confirmed on April 16 that the following local locations sold or served the affected shellfish. Recalled oysters were sold at the Community Food Co-op Downtown Store between March 27 and March 31. Two local restaurants served the affected products: Rock and Rye, which served the recalled oysters from March 29 through April 4, and Keenan's at the Pier, which served them from March 19 through March 23 and again from March 29 through April 3. County health officials have confirmed all three establishments are no longer selling or serving the affected products.
Five Whatcom County residents became ill after eating the recalled oysters. Symptoms reported included vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fatigue. Norovirus illness typically appears within one to two days of consuming contaminated food and usually resolves within a few days in otherwise healthy adults. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness and should contact a healthcare provider promptly.
If you purchased oysters or clams from the Community Food Co-op Downtown Store between those dates, or dined at Rock and Rye or Keenan's at the Pier during the relevant periods, health officials advise you to discard any remaining product immediately. Do not consume it, even if it looks or smells fine. Cooking shellfish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce risk, but the county recommends not taking chances with recalled product already in your home.
Anyone who believes they may have gotten sick from shellfish linked to this recall is encouraged to report their illness through Whatcom County's online foodborne illness reporting form. Reporting suspected illness helps county health officials track the scope of the outbreak and identify any additional exposure sites. Residents experiencing symptoms of norovirus infection should also contact their healthcare provider to receive appropriate care and guidance.
The recall is not unique to Whatcom County. The same Gomez Shellfish, LLC product was distributed to locations across the Pacific Coast, and the Washington State Department of Health continues to update the list of affected retailers and restaurants. The full recall notice, including the most current list of affected locations statewide, is available through the state's Food Recalls and Safety Alerts page.
Washington is one of the leading shellfish-producing states in the country, with harvest operations concentrated in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor. Norovirus outbreaks tied to shellfish are not uncommon, particularly in late winter and early spring when water temperatures and conditions can concentrate the virus in filter-feeding animals. State health officials routinely test harvest areas and can impose closures when contamination levels rise, but commercial harvest areas are not continuously monitored.
Locally, Whatcom County is home to active recreational shellfish harvesting sites along Birch Bay and portions of Bellingham Bay. While those areas are not implicated in this particular recall, county health officials periodically issue biotoxin and shellfish safety alerts for recreational harvesters. Anyone planning to harvest shellfish for personal consumption should always verify current harvest area status before heading out.
As of April 16, Whatcom County Health and Community Services has not issued any additional alerts beyond the recall notice. Residents with questions can contact the county health department directly or use the online complaint and question form to get more information about the recall and its potential impact on their health.
