FDA Ban Could Have Major Impact on Mississippi's Oyster Industry

The FDA is planning to ban the sale of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during some of Mississippi’s peak harvest times. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports on the far reaching impacts that decision could have.

It’s one of the busiest times of the year at Crystal Seas oyster processing company in Pass Christian, and dozens of employees are sorting thousands of oysters running down a conveyor belt.

“When the oysters are brought in we make the decision on whether they need to be shucked or whether they are going to be used for half shells.”

Jennifer Jenkins family owns Crystal Seas, the largest oyster processor in Mississippi and one of the companies that will be hardest hit by the FDA’s decision last week to ban the sale of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico that have not been treated to destroy the Vibrio bacteria. The ban would only apply to oysters harvested in the warmer months, but that includes April and October some of the largest harvest times in Mississippi. Jenkins says the new rule will most likely double the price of oysters and effect will be widespread,

“Everyone is going to take a hit, as well as you think of freight companies, packaging companies, ice companies, anybody that we deal with as oyster processors will take a hit.”

Raw oysters that have gone through an anti-bacterial process after harvest will be allowed to be sold. But many argue that the process changes the flavor of the oyster, and it is unclear whether there are even enough processing plants to handle the increase in Mississippi. Fourth district Congressmen Gene Taylor has sent a letter to the FDA expressing his opposition to the plan, which he calls misguided,

“This could create fear in people’s mind that it is not safe to eat oysters and that is my biggest concern. Then all of those jobs that depend on that and all that income for those families could be jeopardized. There are obviously real concerns out there and this should not be one of them.”

The new ban would take effect in 2011. The Gulf region supplies two thirds of all U.S. oysters.