"It was a disaster," a local who attended the 'L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants' event said

Raw oysters served at a Los Angeles event celebrating the best local restaurants have been linked to a possible norovirus outbreak, leaving at least 80 people sick, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed to food website L.A. Taco, ABC News and The Los Angeles Times.

Following the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event at the Hollywood Palladium on Dec. 3, dozens of patrons reported symptoms that included diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting, the Times reported on Thursday, Dec. 19.

L.A. Taco was first to report the incident, per the Times. The raw oysters in question were provided by Fanny Bay Oysters, Times spokesperson Hillary Manning said, per the outlet.

According to Manning, the oysters -- which have since been recalled -- had been sourced by event sponsor, Santa Monica Seafood. (Santa Monica Seafood told the New York Times the oysters linked to the outbreak were sourced by another seafood company that voluntarily withdrew the product.)

"We have produced culinary events for many years and take food safety very seriously," Manning said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times via email.

Related: Woman Dies From Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Eating Oysters: 'She Knew She Was Dying,' Says Relative

"As is the case with each of our events, we had protocols in place and, based on an inspection from the L.A. County Department of Public Health, we were in compliance with all relevant safety standards," Manning continued. "We also know the care that each chef and restaurant takes in preparing and serving food to our community."

PEOPLE reached out to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Related: 3 Dead, 1 Hospitalized from Flesh-Eating Bacteria Found in Raw Oysters and Saltwater

"At this time, over 80 attendees that consumed the oysters have reported illness," a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health spokesperson told ABC News.

Because the oysters were provided by Fanny Bay, the company has pulled their affected products with a pack date of Nov. 25, 2024 or later from Pacific Northwest Shellfish Co., per the New York Times.

Pacific Northwest Shellfish Co. owner Leigh Loader said they've already stopped shipments. "We are very diligent -- the whole industry here," he told the New York Times. "Nothing will be reopened until the government here is more than happy that there is no chance of further illnesses."

A week after the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event incident, the California Department of Public Health issued a Dec. 13 warning not to eat raw oysters harvested from British Columbia.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised restaurants and retailers not to sell the oysters due to potential norovirus contamination.

Mark Kapczynski told L.A. Taco he paid between $600 and $700 for two VIP tickets to the event, adding that he and his wife got so sick after consuming the food that he "collapsed" in his home.

"They stuffed so many people into that place," he said of the venue. "Someone who was sick might have sneezed on the food."

Kapczynski also pointed out that the oysters "were sitting out there wide open."

"I feel like that may have been it," he said.

Kapczynski also told the New York Times he missed several days of work after consuming food at the event and "could barely walk."

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"It was a disaster," he said. "These are the top restaurants in L.A. You think you're safe. Not what you expect."

According to L.A. Taco, who said they spoke with 11 attendees, including one of their own staff members who became sick, a spokesperson for the health department issued the following statement without referring to the Los Angeles Times gathering specifically: "The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a norovirus outbreak associated with oysters that were served at an event on December 3, 2024."

"Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States," the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports, urging individuals to "Always wash your hands and handle food well."