Hepatitis A Outbreak Tied to Frozen Black Clams Grows to 37 Cases, 30 Hospitalizations
A CDC investigation linked to La Serranita-brand frozen concha negra clam meat has spread to a fourth state. Four in five people sickened have been hospitalized, and the product has been under an FDA alert since April.
Meridians Life Desk
Published 15 September 2026 · Updated 15 September 2026 · 4 min read
FoodThe short answer
- CDC says a hepatitis A outbreak linked to La Serranita-brand frozen concha negra (black clam) shell meat has grown to 37 cases across Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania, as of September 3, 2026.
- 30 of the 37 people infected — about 81% — have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
- The clam meat was imported from Ecuador and sold frozen in 16-ounce packages through New York and New Jersey dealers; FDA issued a safety alert about it in April 2026, but illness onset dates run through June 2026.
- Freezing does not kill the hepatitis A virus. Anyone who ate the product raw or undercooked in the last 14 days and isn't vaccinated should ask a doctor about post-exposure vaccination.
A multistate hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen black clam meat has grown to 37 cases and 30 hospitalizations, the CDC said in a September 3 update — an unusually high hospitalization rate for a foodborne outbreak, and one that has now spread to a fourth state.
The numbers
- 37 confirmed cases across Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania as of the CDC's September 3, 2026 update.
- 30 hospitalizations — about 81% of cases — and zero deaths reported.
- Illness onset dates span July 30, 2025 through June 23, 2026, nearly eleven months.
- The most recently added case is a 6-year-old child, widening the age range beyond the adult cases reported earlier.
What's contaminated
The source is La Serranita-brand concha negra, or black clam, shell meat imported frozen from Ecuador in 16-ounce packages and distributed through dealers in New York and New Jersey. The FDA issued a safety alert about the product in April 2026, months before this update — and illness onset dates show people were still getting sick as late as June.
Why freezing didn't help
Hepatitis A is a virus, not a bacterium, and freezing does not inactivate it. A product frozen and sold months after contamination can still make someone sick, which is part of why this outbreak's timeline runs so long after the initial alert.
What to do
The CDC and FDA recommend discarding or returning any La Serranita concha negra product. Anyone who ate it raw or undercooked within the last 14 days and has not been vaccinated against hepatitis A should contact a doctor about post-exposure vaccination, which can prevent illness if given quickly enough.
Sources
Every factual claim above is traceable to these documents. Check them — that is why they are here.
About this byline
Meridians Life Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.
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