Human waste found in recalled oysters

Oysters from a south-east Tasmanian farm blamed for an Easter gastro outbreak have been found to be contaminated with human waste.

About 60 people contracted gastroenteritis over Easter after eating oysters traced to Barilla Bay's lease at Dunalley.

All of its oyster products have now been recalled.

Tasmania's director of public health Roscoe Taylor has confirmed they were contaminated with human waste.

"It would have either arisen from some kind of unrecognised sewage leak or some illegal activity or possibly from recreational boating," he said.

Investigations will continue today.

The outbreak has been traced to Barilla Bay's lease at Dunalley.

Dr Taylor says the contamination is not linked to a sewage spill at Pitt Water which forced the closure of 14 leases last week.

He has not ruled out damage from the January bushfires being associated with the contamination.

"The above ground sewage infrastructure at least was checked out after these and I understand it was all found to be intact," he said.

"It's speculative at the moment but obviously all of those things would need to be looked at during a sanitary inspection."

Barilla Bay Oysters is asking the public to dispose of all oysters bought at its retail outlet near the airport on or before last Sunday, or from Mures Lower Deck between last Thursday and Saturday.

The company has apologised to customers for any inconvenience and says the public will be "regularly informed on developments."

Source: ABC News, 3 April 2013