Federal health officials are warning the consumer public to stay away from oysters harvested in the “Area 7″ near Port Sulpher, LA.  Area 7 is located in the Gulf of Mexico, near the mouth of the Mississippi River.  After a dozen people became sick after eating raw oysters, the state health authorities notified the FDA that the oysters-in-question were contaminated with Norovirus–which causes acute gastroenteritis.  Gastroenteritis is a fancy word for “food poisoning” or “the 24-hour flu.”  Symptoms frequently include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills.

Oysters, and other shellfish, are animals that live underwater.  Because you eat their entire body (except the shell) you also consume the organs the animals use to filter impurities from the water.  Traditionally people commonly ate shellfish raw, but today many shellfish live in water that has been contaminated by harmful toxins that remain in the shellfish.  The meat can become harmful to humans if not cleaned and cooked thoroughly.  Once cooked, most shellfish are perfectly safe to consume.

Again, the FDA has warned people not to consume oysters from the Area 7 location in Louisiana.  If you are a food vendor and are unsure from where your shellfish originated, please contact the distributor.  If you serve oysters or other shellfish raw, please ensure you place a health notice on your menu to inform the consumer of any possible risks involved with eating raw shellfish.

Source:  FDA