There’s no “R” in May, so can we eat raw oysters?
Yes, you can eat raw oysters in the summer. The adage of “R” months can be traced all the way back to 1599. According to a New York Times article, an English cookbook warned people not to eat oysters in the summer months. That was probably a really good idea a few hundred years ago. In modern times, though, as long as the oysters are grown in healthy waters and are handled properly, they are safe for most people to eat.
There are reasons oyster lovers prefer not to eat oysters in warm-weather months. Oysters spawn in warm water and can be thin and watery. If you like your oysters plump and firm, maybe months with an “R” really are best. Warmer water can also cause harmful bacteria to grow. Because of the risk of bacteria-infected oysters, the National Shellfish Sanitation Program has strict guidelines to ensure the oysters we eat are safe.
Oysters grow wild in Alabama’s coastal waters and are also farmed. Most folks agree that Gulf Coast oysters are softer and sweeter than their cousins to the north. Since the 1880s, on average, more than a million pounds have been harvested annually in Alabama.
With all that oyster shucking, what happens to the shells? The Alabama Coastal Foundation and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation started an oyster shell recycling program in 2016 to help new oysters grow.
The bottom line? You can enjoy oysters any time of year. And most will agree that fresh oysters from the Gulf Coast are the best.