China halts import of raw oysters from US

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China said it has also recalled raw oysters already accessed by Chinese companies.
The US Food and Drug Administration had earlier this week warned consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from the Hood Canal area of Washington following an outbreak of illness in the state caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

China has conducted tests for the bacteria in raw oysters imported from other US states as well as seafood imported from other countries, the AQSIQ said in a statement.

There have not been any reports of illness caused by eating raw oysters imported from Washington yet in China, according to the AQSIQ, which noted that most raw oysters in the Chinese market are produced domestically.

The administration advised consumers to cook seafood thoroughly before eating.
On the listeria outbreak involving tainted cantaloupes in the US, the AQSIQ said China has not imported US cantaloupes.

China has asked all airlines operating flights between this country and the US to stop serving raw or cold foods, like cantaloupes, on planes flying here from America, AQSIQ was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.