MARSHALL, Calif. — Tomales Bay Illness Closure lifted on January 17, 2019, at 12:49 PM. Hog Island Oyster Co. and all other oyster growers in Tomales Bay received an email from California Department of Health (CDPH) Environmental Management Branch on Thursday, January 17, stating that results from the Food and Drug Laboratory reported oyster meat samples collected from Tomales Bay came back negative for norovirus. CDPH has lifted the illness closure for Tomales Bay.
Tomales Bay remains closed due to heavy winter rains. Harvesting will resume when the standard rainfall closure is lifted. Hog Island Oyster Co. locations in Marshall, San Francisco and Napa remain open during the closure, selling oysters purchased from trusted shellfish growers in Washington State, and beyond.
Hog Island Oyster Co. is continuing to collaborate with CDPH and other regulatory agencies to identify the cause of the contamination. “We are leaning hard into this issue and working with all stakeholders and agencies to do our best to avoid this happening again,” says Terry Sawyer, Hog Island Oyster Co-Founder, and VP.
Hog Island Oyster Co. extends sincere concern and empathy for those who experienced illness. “We thank everyone for their understanding, cooperation and ongoing support as we work to resolve this issue,” says Sawyer.
