Show of hands: Who loves oysters?

Okay, now another poll question: Who has heard you should only eat raw oysters during months that include the letter “R”?

The myth dates back a few hundred years – to 1599 to be exact. According to the New York Times, that’s when the warning showed up in an English cookbook as “don’t eat oysters in the summer.”

It made sense at the time, mainly because unrefrigerated or un-iced oysters spoil more quickly and bacteria spread faster in hot months. In addition, oysters spawn in the summer, so when oystermen were harvesting wild oysters, that made sense.

Now oysters are grown on farms, and are strictly regulated by U.S. law, which ensures it is safe to consume. The state’s health department performs rigorous tests on oysters to make sure they are safe for consumption. 

We produce delicious oysters on the Alabama coast, so grab a cracker and a bottle of hot sauce and get set to down some no matter what time of year it is. If you don’t like them raw, no problem. Our restaurants serve them baked, steamed, grilled and even fried on a po’ boy.