Anyone ever come across shucked oysters whose liquor was a reddish tint like this? In 10 years of selling these to this restaurant, we’ve never seen anything like this. They’re west coast oysters. Fresh and with a best by date still 5 days away.
We contacted the packer and they told us to destroy them, but have yet to answer exactly what the cause could be. Some light googling led me to one possible explanation- that it might be caused by red algae they consume. But the speed with which we were told to destroy them makes me wonder if it’s not something else. Very little information on the internet about it, so hoping someone out there has encounter this first hand and knows the cause?
They smell fine. No odor whatsoever. But no one was [justifiably] brave enough to try one after being told to destroy them. 😂
by streudel-
10 Comments
Almost all streams and rivers in California drain into the ocean. The Sierra Nevada watershed is one of the largest watersheds in the world. Ironically, It’s also a hotspot for wildfires. In addition to the increase in soil erosion following wildfires, firefighters also use phosphorous to suppress flames. All of this is washed downstream to the lower rivers, delta, estuaries, and finally the bays, where the oysters live. They filter all this bullshit out no problem, but while they’re filtering, until they have purged themselves of these chemicals and these sediments, they are hazardous to eat.
I live in Humboldt County (Oyster Capitol of California!) and basically anytime there is a severe rain for a few days or more (which is like, 60% of the year, here), they close the bay for oyster harvesting and we’re 86 oysters for a week at minimum.
It sucks, but never trust potentially bad shellfish. If you have to ask, it probably needs to be tossed.
If shellfish makes your spidey sense tingle, throw it out.
I think they have pads with wings for red tinted oyster liquor
PNW guy here. That’s likely contaminated by an algae bloom commonly referred to as red tide. Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is a shit way to die. What happens is your lungs get paralyzed so you slowly suffocate while you’re still aware and alert and alive. I live a stone’s throw from some of the largest oyster beds on the west coast. This is the worst time of year to eat shellfish. I knew a dude whose GF was a waitress for a catering company. Some outfit had a huge buffet, and she brought all the uneaten leftovers to a party after work including a huge platter of raw shucked oysters that had sat out in the summer sun all day. He oinked out on all of it. Like two dozen. He spent the next three days in the ICU.Â
Everything reminds me of her 🥲
This is red tide inside the oyster shells. It will get people sick. Toss em and 86 the oyster special.
[removed]
What did you call me?!?
CHUG CHUG CHIG CHUG
Yep, as a lot of people described, the red algae they consume kills people really well.
Happened Russian settlers in the 17/1800s in Alaska. They still teach that stuff in school up there as it wiped out a lot of people.
When in doubt, throw it out.