Norovirus: these shellfish purchased since the beginning of February are subject to a recall, are your purchases at risk?

Norovirus: these shellfish purchased since the beginning of February are subject to a recall, are your purchases at risk?
Since February 3, 2026, a recall has hit the filter-feeding shellfish of the Rivière d’Auray Aval and Anse de Baden, in Morbihan, for the risk of Norovirus. How do you know if your oysters, mussels or clams come from this area?

In the Gulf of Morbihan, an area usually associated with oyster flats facing the sea, residents now look at their shellfish with caution. Products from the
Auray River Aval and theBaden Cove are the subject of an alert, although they have already been widely distributed on French shelves.

A product recall targets all filter-feeding shellfish collected in the zone 56.12.4 from February 3, 2026, according to RappelConso sheet no. 2026-02-0264. Imposed by an order from the prefect of Morbihan dated February 20, 2026, it is linked to the presence of
Norovirus in this shellfish growing area. The question arises: are your purchases affected?

Shellfish recall Rivière d’Auray – Anse de Baden: a supervised closure

Shellfish farming zone 56.12.4 covers the Auray River Aval and theBaden Coveon the eastern facade of the Gulf of Morbihan. The shellfish that have been harvested there since February 3, 2026 have been sold throughout France: direct sales producers, markets, fishmongers, retailers, large and medium-sized stores. All batches and all packaging are covered, with health marks starting with FR 56.XXX.XXX.

The prefectural decree of February 20, 2026 temporarily prohibits fishing, collection, transport, purification, shipping, storage, distribution, marketing and human consumption of all shellfish from this area. Only non-filtering gastropods, such as whelks, periwinkles or murex, escape this measure, because they do not filter seawater in the same way.

Norovirus and filter-feeding shellfish: why the risk is monitored

THE filter-feeding shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, cockles, etc.) feed by filtering large quantities of water. When water is contaminated, they can concentrate viruses like Norovirusresponsible for many winter gastroenteritis. It is this mechanism which led the authorities to block zone 56.12.4 and to recall products already placed on the market.

The risk described by RappelConso corresponds to gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea, often accompanied by moderate fever. The incubation period can be up to 48 hours after consumption. Immunocompromised people must remain particularly attentive to these signs, because the infection can be more severe on a weakened body.

What to do if your shellfish come from the Rivière d’Auray Aval and Anse de Baden?

The first step is to check the origin: label, invoice, display on the shelf or information given by the seller. The recalled products are refrigerated shellfish, bearing an FR 56… health mark and coming from the Auray River Aval or theBaden Covefor a harvest from February 3, 2026. In case of doubt, the official instructions are clear:

  • No longer consume the shellfish concerned;
  • Return them to the point of sale or destroy them;
  • Contact the point of sale for compensation arrangements.

People who have already consumed these products and present symptoms of gastroenteritis are invited to consult their doctor, reporting the consumption of shellfish from this area. The information is accessible on the platform
ReminderConsothe site of the Morbihan prefecture and thehealth atlas of shellfish production areaswhich follows the status of zone 56.12.4. If a recalled product appears to still be available for sale, it may be reported on SignalConso.