74 Become Ill After Eating Raw Oysters in NYC

[Artichoke]

According to an article in today's New York Times , by Marian Burros, 74 people are believed to have become ill from eating raw oysters from the Pacific Northwest that were sold in New York City. Cases have also been reported in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington State.

The article quotes the FDA as saying there has been "“an unusual increase in bacterial illness associated with eating raw oysters’’ from the waters of the lower Puget sound. The entire FDA advisory can be read here.

Personally I have always avoided eating oysters in the summer because of their tendency to spawn in warmer waters , but this clearly something different.

Anyone out there feeling icky?

[docsconz]

This is disturbing as I have always considered oysters from these waters heretofore "safe".

[patticky]

I miss eating raw seafood so much sometimes I can still remember the taste of raw clam with a squirt of' lemon juice. I read articles like this and I remember why I had to give it up. Such a shame!

[Raoul Duke]

Who eats oysters in July? After having lived in the PNW and listening to the old timers talk of eating oysters only in months with "r's" in them, may make some sense. Is this what others have heard, or is it BS?

[MissAmy]

Raoul Duke, that's also what I have been raised to believe, and I never eat oysters in the summer time. Growing up, we were taught only to eat oysters in months that contain the letter "R." In other words, you don't eat oysters in May, June, July, or August. For good reason.

Edited August 1, 2006 by MissAmy (log)

[Jensen]

The bivalve fishery in BC was closed in mid-June due to red tide. As far as I know, it's still closed.

So, if people are getting ill from eating BC oysters, they must be eating really old shellfish!

[aser]

the old adage isn't necessarily true anymore. Read this LA Times piece for more info.

That doesn't mean I'm rushing out to eat them either, I still believe in seasons.

[SeanDirty]

Ok here is the Lowdown for the Oyster bed closures on the West Coast, These Oysters are labled as "Contaminated"

Hood Canal (Washington State)

Sunset Beach (Washington State)

Quilcene (Washington Bay)

Anything that is currently comming out of the Taten Inlet. There are also very small "tidal" closures on the east coast, but that only affects, razor clams, and small other items.

~The Fish Guy~

[rich]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this - think of how the oysters feel!