According to this Yahoo article, the FDA earlier this month announced it will ban the sale of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico unless they've been treated with an expensive and taste-robbing process to kill certain bacteria. The ban will take effect in 2011.

FDA to ban sale of raw oysters from Gulf of Mexico - Yahoo! News

I can't believe the FDA is singling out oysters and the oyster industry like this. I'm all for food safety, but this crosses the line IMHO.

No more 'dozen on the half shell?' Crazy.

OMG!! I can't believe it. I love oysters!!! The government needs to stay out of this.

I hope this changes and fast! This is way over the line.

Fortunately the industry has the time and opportunity to retaliate. Lobbyist for the industry will battle this tooth and nail. Oysters now? So what's next? There is talk of a soda tax even! I appreciate what the FDA does but this is so misdirected. There is little to gain by this ban!

I hope you are right about them having time to fight this. When you read the article it says 15 people die a year from eating raw oysters, and most of those people had pre-existing conditions that lead to their sickness. I bet more people die a year from choking on a chicken bone than die from oyster poisoning. What's next, banning bone-in chicken?

Sometimes public opinion can help change bad policy. Maybe someone with enough technical expertise can put together an online petition to send to the FDA commissioner (Dr. Margaret Hamburg) and let her know just how wrong this idea is. Food safety is one thing but leave our oysters alone!

wow............... this is rediculous, its not like they dont already make them put freakin warnings right on the stupid menu, now they are going to ban them outright? another example of government idiot elitests.

look what i found! thank god!


The Obama administration's War on Oysters has hit a snag. New FDA rules that would have dramatically increased oyster prices and ruined the quality of Gulf Coast oysters during much of the year have been put on hold indefinitely after a massive outcry by oyster lovers and harvesters.
The new rules, which would have required special processing for oysters from the Gulf of Mexico, were intended to prevent a disease that affects 30 people who eat raw oysters and causes 15 deaths annually. The infection, vibrio vulnificus, nearly always affects people with diabetes or pre-existing immunity problems, who shouldn't be eating raw foods anyway.
In order to eliminate an infinitesimal risk from oysters in the Gulf of Mexico, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg planned to require oysters farmed between April and October be put through a process that completely ruins their flavor, according to the experts I consulted while writing about this a few weeks back. FDA had decided it wasn't enough to require warnings (or simply to count on people using common sense when choosing what to eat).
Now the issue will be put to a new government study. (Nothing like a government study to make sure nothing happens.)

Thank goodness. I saw this on the news last night and meant to post a reply.

Here's the Save Our Oysters website (although it's moot now):
Save Our Shellfish - Speak Out Against the FDA ban on Gulf Oysters

Here's another article from the News Herald:
Public pressure capsizes FDA raw oyster ban

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Great news but beware the likes of the Center for Science in the Public Interest! Reading thier quote in the News Herald one would think the problem is much larger than it is. Funny how "Big Brother" always knows what is best for the people.

Ridge - you called it. Online petition... Public opinion swaying the outcome...

Center for Science in the Public Interest is still overreacting. They're just looking for ways to keep their organization relevant. Who even heard of them until now?

At least the FDA listened.

There's an interesting article concerning the CSPI from 2006 that will shed some light on their "mission". I thought it was worth the read. I had forgotten that they had led the charge against such evils as popcorn and soft drinks. Anyone who owns a business that serves food or drink or enjoys said businesses may want to check them out. http://www.junkscience.com/falsealarm.pdf

great read!

Not that I'm paranoid or anything about the powers at large (yeah, right!) but I hope this doesn't add fuel to a flickering fire. Any kind of "stat-grab" always seems to help build a case against whomever is in the cross-hairs of the government. DSHS Recalls All Oysters Harvested From San Antonio Bay