Why You Shouldn't Eat Oysters in the Summer

Research says we shouldn't be eating oysters in the warm summer months.
Research says we shouldn't be eating oysters in the warm summer months.

Ugh, well this just about ruins the waning days of summer (it's still summer! Right?). Instead of going out and getting a French 75 cocktail with some oysters on the half-shell, we'll have to stick with something more plebian like shrimp cocktail, as health officials warn against eating oysters in the summer.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Oysters


The Huffington Post reports that in the past few weeks, officials in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington state have reported twice as many cases of vibriosis after eating raw oysters, compared to previous summers.

RELATED: How to Shuck an Oyster

According to the report, 113 illnesses had been reported in the three states by the middle of August; previous years, there were only 55 cases of vibriosis. The illnesses, which refers to two different foodborne illnesses caused by bacterial infection, is usually very rare. Past reports note that an average American is 100 times more likely to find a pearl in an oyster than contracting vibriosis.

RELATED: Could Oysters Have Helped Us During Hurricane Sandy?

In response, officials have shut down commercial oyster beds until further notice, which might mean a depletion of oysters until the colder months. Vibriosis has traditionally been linked to warm waters, where bacteria can breed, which oftentimes leads oyster enthusiasts to only eat raw oysters in months that end in the letter "R."

Click here to see What Fish Should You Be Eating Now for Flavor, Health, and the Environment

-Jessica Chou, The Daily Meal

More on Fish from The Daily Meal:
7 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Fish
15 Easy Fish Recipes for Summer