Stung by a national recall of B.C. oysters destined to be eaten raw, the province’s oyster growers have agreed to a new testing regime they hope will get their products back on the market.

Oyster producers have agreed to test five times more oysters at federal processing plants than were being tested before an Aug. 18 recall, said Roberta Stevenson, executive director of the BC Shellfish Grower’s Association.

Most growers support the change even though many feel a large number of the illnesses that triggered the recall could have as much or more to do with improper storage and handling of oysters than with the product they are delivering to market, she said.

“It [increased testing] came about from the recall – in order to address the perception that we are not selling a safe product, we are going to ramp up the number of animals we test, per lot of product,” she said.

“We want to reassure the public and Health Canada and everybody else that we are taking this very seriously.”

Serious? Go public.