Experts have assessed the main risks of importing oysters into the UK and measures to help mitigate possible issues.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was commissioned by the UK Office for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Trade Assurance to profile the potential risks of importing oysters into the United Kingdom. It is intended to provide information for auditors and risk managers involved in market access requests.
Hazard identification was done via a literature review. Two categories were identified: chemical and microbiological hazards. They included heavy metals, natural biotoxins, viral and bacterial pathogens, and persistent organic chemicals. Allergens and physical hazards were excluded.
Earlier this year, specialists at the FSA assessed the public health risk of raw oysters to help with development of risk management options during norovirus outbreaks.
A high-risk product
The UK imports 350,000 kilograms of oysters per year, and they are commonly processed. The main exporters to the UK include Korea, France, and New Zealand. Consumption surveys indicate that the general population rarely eats oysters.
Scientists found oysters are a high-risk product for import, particularly for certain…
