Assessing Farm-Level Practices for Food Borne Illness Prevention from Raw Oyster Consumption

Abstract

The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is popular as a sustainable and nutrient-rich source of animal protein, and sustains a large coastal economy of aquaculture in North Carolina. With increasingly worsened climate change and environmental conditions, the maintenance of the oyster populations in coastal ecosystems is crucial to biodiversity, water quality, and pH. However, high rates of food borne illness from consumption of raw oysters pose a risk to consumer health. The goal of this study is to assess farm-level practices of oyster aquaculturists used to prevent food-borne illness. The research group for this study is oyster farmers with leases in coastal North Carolina. This paper provides recommendations for improved practices and policy surrounding food-borne illness prevention at the farm-level in North Carolina.