Hong Kong Cracks Down on Oyster Imports Following Norovirus Outbreak
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People infected with norovirus often exhibit symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, mild fever and general discomfort.
Health authorities in the Asian financial hub are cracking down on raw-oyster imports after a wave of food-poisoning clusters linked primarily to norovirus. The swift regulatory action follows a surge in cases, including a recent outbreak at the Mandarin Oriental hotel’s Clipper Lounge.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said late Tuesday it had ordered two suppliers to suspend imports and sales immediately. Inspectors have launched surprise checks on approximately 430 dining establishments across the city that serve raw oysters.
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- Hong Kong authorities suspended imports from two suppliers after a surge in norovirus-linked food poisoning, mainly tied to raw oysters.
- From Jan. 18 to Feb. 9, there were 37 clusters affecting 115 people; 101 had eaten raw oysters, and 33 clusters were linked to norovirus.
- Inspections are ongoing in 430 venues; vulnerable populations are advised to avoid consuming raw oysters due to infection risks.
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Who’s Who
- Mandarin Oriental hotel
- The Mandarin Oriental hotel's Clipper Lounge was involved in a norovirus outbreak. Eight patrons who dined there on January 31 and February 2 developed symptoms after consuming raw seafood. The Centre for Food Safety identified oysters, salmon sashimi, and crabs as likely sources. The incident is part of a larger surge in food poisoning cases in the region.
- Mandarin Oriental hotel’s Clipper Lounge
- The Mandarin Oriental hotel's Clipper Lounge was involved in a recent food-poisoning outbreak. Eight patrons who dined there on January 31 and February 2 developed symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. The likely cause was the consumption of raw seafood, including oysters, salmon sashimi, and crabs, with norovirus identified as the pathogen in many related cases.
- Seojun Mulsan Co. Ltd.
- Seojun Mulsan Co. Ltd. (徐俊物产有限公司) is a South Korean company that supplied oysters implicated in food poisoning outbreaks in Hong Kong. Ten of the 37 recent norovirus clusters in the region were linked to oysters from this company. As a result, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety halted imports from Seojun Mulsan Co. Ltd. on February 5.
- Jeton International Food
- Jeton International Food, also known as 88 Investment Holdings Ltd., is a local oyster supplier implicated in a series of norovirus food poisoning clusters in Hong Kong. Investigations by the Centre for Food Safety linked 11 outbreak cases since February to oysters provided by Jeton International Food. As a result of these findings, the Centre for Food Safety halted imports from the company on February 5th.
- 88 Investment Holdings Ltd.
- 88 Investment Holdings Ltd. is a local supplier identified in investigations related to a norovirus outbreak in Hong Kong. The Centre for Food Safety linked 11 food poisoning cases to oysters supplied by this company. As a precautionary measure, imports from 88 Investment Holdings Ltd. were halted on February 5.
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What Happened When
- Late December 2025：
- Hong Kong recorded an average of one food-poisoning case per week attributed to raw oysters.
- January 2026：
- The average number of food-poisoning cases in Hong Kong climbed to four per week.
- Jan. 18, 2026 to Feb. 9, 2026：
- Officials recorded 37 clusters of food poisoning involving 115 people, with 101 having consumed raw oysters.
- Jan. 31, 2026：
- Some of the eight patrons involved in the Mandarin Oriental incident dined at the Clipper Lounge.
- Feb. 2, 2026：
- The rest of the eight patrons involved in the Mandarin Oriental incident dined at the Clipper Lounge.
- After Jan. 31, 2026 and Feb. 2, 2026 (between 25 and 75 hours post-meal)：
- The eight affected patrons developed symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
- February 2026：
- Ten outbreaks since this month were linked to oysters from the South Korean company Seojun Mulsan Co. Ltd.
- February 5, 2026：
- The Centre for Food Safety halted imports from Seojun Mulsan Co. Ltd., Jeton International Food, and 88 Investment Holdings Ltd.
- Feb. 5, 2026 to Feb. 10, 2026：
- Officials conducted surprise inspections at hundreds of venues serving raw oysters across Hong Kong.
- Late Tuesday (February 10, 2026)：
- The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department ordered two suppliers to suspend imports and sales of raw oysters immediately.
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