Raw and steamed oysters linked to recent norovirus outbreaks

Food Safety Infosheet Highlights:

– Since December 2009 three oyster-linked outbreaks resulting in over 300 illnesses have been reported in the U.S.
– Ensure that you buy oysters from licensed, reputable suppliers.
– Ask your suppliers about their food safety practices and harvesting sites.
– Tell patrons that steaming is not always an effective cooking step for oysters; steamed is not a safe alternative to raw.

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About Ben Chapman

Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of less foodborne illness, his group designs, implements, and evaluates food safety strategies, messages, and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, Chapman investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben co-hosts a biweekly podcast called Food Safety Talk and tries to further engage folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and, maybe not surprisingly, Pinterest. Follow on Twitter @benjaminchapman.