Abstract
This EDIS publication provides insights for both oyster consumers and the restaurants that serve them, offering recommendations on techniques to maximize the safety of oysters through proper cooking.
References
EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards. 2015. “Evaluation of Heat Treatments, Different from Those Currently Established in the EU Legislation, that Could Be Applied to Live Bivalve Molluscs from B and C Production Areas, that Have Not Been Submitted to Purification or Relaying, in Order to Eliminate Pathogenic Microorganisms.” EFSA Journal 13 (12): 4332. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4332
Felice, R. J. 2011. “Sensory and Physical Assessment of Microbiologically Safe Culinary Processes for Fish and Shellfish.” Master’s thesis, Virginia Tech. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42494
Feng, Y., and C. M. Bruhn. 2019. “Motivators and Barriers to Cooking and Refrigerator Thermometer Use Among Consumers and Food Workers: A Review.” Journal of Food Protection 82 (1): 128–150. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-18-245
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). 2023. “Shellfish Processing: Rules and Regulations.” FDACS-P-02067. Last revised May 2023. https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/65886/file/shellfishprocessing-rules-and-regulations.pdf
Hu, X., and P. Mallikarjunan. 2005. “Thermal and Dielectric Properties of Shucked Oysters.” LWT - Food Science and Technology 38 (5): 489–4946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2004.07.016
Leung, J., BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health, C. Andraza, L. McIntyre, and H. Heacock. 2018. “Evaluation of Internal Temperature of Oysters Following Standard Thermal Process Recipes.” BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.47339/ephj.2018.64
Martin, R. E., E. P. Carter, G. J. Flick, and L. M. Davis. 2000. Marine and Freshwater Products Handbook. CRC Press.https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482293975
Mcleod, C., B. Hay, C. Grant, G. Greening, and D. Day. 2009. “Localization of Norovirus and Poliovirus in Pacific Oysters.” Journal of Applied Microbiology 106 (4): 1220–1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04091.x
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2024. “Preventing Vibrio Infection.” Last updated May 14, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/prevention/vibrio-andoysters.html
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2025. BEAM (Bacteria, Enterics, Ameba, Mycotics) Dashboard. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed on May 6, 2025. www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/BEAM-dashboard.html.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). 2025a. “Kitchen Thermometers.” Last updated March 21, 2025. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/kitchen-thermometers
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). 2025b. “Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.” Last updated April 14, 2025. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart
U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2024. “Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely.” Last updated March 5, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
Wittman, R. J., and G. J. Flick. 1995. “Microbial Contamination of Shellfish: Prevalence, Risk to Human Health, and Control Strategies.” Annual Review of Public Health 16 (1): 123–140. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pu.16.050195.001011
Wright, A. C., Y. Fan, and G. L. Baker. 2018. “Nutritional Value and Food Safety of Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish.” Journal of Shellfish Research 37 (4): 695–708. https://doi.org/10.2983/035.037.0403

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 UF/IFAS
