FDA urges markets to pull shellfish from SKorea - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

WASHINGTON (WXOW) -- The Food and Drug Administration is urging food distributors, retailers and food service vendors to remove seafood from the market imported from South Korea because of possible contamination with human waste and norovirus.

The decision follows an FDA evaluation that determined that the Korean Shellfish Sanitation program no longer meets adequate sanitation controls. The federal agency is in discussions with South Korean authorities to resolve the issue.

FDA officials say decision to call for the removal of oysters, clams, mussels and scallops from the market began with norovirus outbreaks in November and December.

Officials say no illnesses from eating the shellfish have been reported this year. Four norovirus illnesses, including three in Washington state, were reported in 2011. Norovirus causes vomiting or diarrhea.

Click here to read the FDA's update on the situation.