Dear Ms. Woods:
Irradiation of seafood, including molluscan shellfish has yet to be
approved in the U.S., although the National Fisheries Institute has a
petition requesting the use of irradiation on shellfish pending with the
FDA. Therefore, I believe the chef was mistaken. There is a company
based in Louisiana that produces a pasteurized oyster product. It is a
relatively mild heat treatment followed by a rapid chill. The process is
believed to be effective at reducing significantly Vibrio vulnificus in the
oysters. There is another producer that processes oysters under high
hydrostatic pressure, a process that effectively destroys Vibrio bacteria.
In addition, some processors are or are considering freezing of half
shell products which also reduces Vibrios.
The signs were in the restaurant because it is a law in that state to have
a consumer message for at risk consumers. I do not believe there is yet
an exemption to the labeling requirement for products that have been
treated to reduce or eliminate pathogens. It is also possible that the
restaurant sources from more than one supplier not all of whom may
supply the treated oysters.
Regards,
Robert Collette
National Fisheries Inst.
From: ruelloinc@wr.com.au
Date sent: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 14:36:59 +1000
Send reply to: ruelloinc@wr.com.au
Organization: Ruello & Associates P/L
To: seafood@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Any USA Oyster experts
> Could someone out there help me? I was recently in Joe's in South
> Beach Miami, Florida (USA) and noticed the sign they had regarding the
> risk of eating raw oysters. This sign is of great interest to me ,
> being from Australia. Notwithstanding the sign, the chef there told me
> that the oysters were infact "irradiated" . The menu described them as
> "pasteurised". I was and am very confused.
>
> My question is: 1. would the oysters be irradiated? If so, wouldn't
> they then be safe to eat, and hence, why the cautionary sign?
>
> 2. What does the term "pasteruised" mean in relationship to raw oysters?
>
> I would really appreciate an answer as consumption of raw oysters is big
> business in NSW - the Australian state in which I reside.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Judith Woods
>
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