Facing a flurry of protest from oyster growers -- and the politicians who represent them -- the FDA said Friday it will "conduct an independent study to assess how post-harvest processing or other equivalent controls can be feasibly implemented in the Gulf Coast in the fastest, safest and most economical way."
Several weeks ago, FDA announced its intent to change, by summer 2011, its policy regarding the post-harvest processing of raw Gulf Coast oysters harvested in the warmer months.
The intent of this change in policy, which would affect about 25 percent of the total annual harvest, would be to substantially reduce the number of Americans who suffer severe and painful illness and death from the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria.
The
