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Dear Ones:You've heard me repeatedly urge caution when it comes to eating certain seafood products, most notably RAW OYSTERS and other SHELL FISH. Most recently my ongoing concern has been for norovirus in Mississippi and Louisiana oysters. Here's the link: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/03/oyster-alert-miss-la-norovirus-posted.html
A little known fact that not many are familiar with is that this norovirus infection is highly contagious, unlike some other food-borne illnesses, which can only hurt and even kill 'one victim at a time'. Here's a CDC link on norovirus for you: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm
My advice has been this for years now: DO NOT EAT RAW OYSTERS. THE RISK OF CONTRACTING SOME SEVERE AND PERMANENTLY LIFE-ALTERING VIRAL OR OTHER ILLNESS IS JUST TOO GREAT TO RISK IT. This applies to the young, the elderly, those who are immunocompromised and pregnant and nursing women, especially.
I understand that there's nothing better than a good 'Oyster/Seafood Bar'. But from a microbiological standpoint, things have been dicey for a long time now. Add to the recent Gulf area flooding (with attendant sewage and cemetery upheaval and run-off) and I am forced to ratchet up my alert level to you.
The Gulf Oil Spill is fouling all living things in the area. From a biochemical point-of-view, chemical contamination, whether from petrochemicals, pesticides or putrefaction cannot be 'cooked or processed away'. Therefore, I am expanding my standing ADVICE FOR YOU THAT GULF OF MEXICO STATIONARY BOTTOM-FEEDERS SUCH AS OYSTERS AND CLAMS AS WELL AS SHRIMP, FISH AND ALL SWIMMERS, BOTH RAW AND COOKED ARE LIKELY TO NOT BE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
It is very likely that the gulf stream will transport oil up the East Coast and as such, all of the sea and it's food will have to be monitored henceforth.
NOTE FOR PET-OWNERS: Everything I write here pertains to animal and pet food, as well. Take care to check the source of the fish and fish-byproducts, such as fish meal in your pet's food. I just pray that pet food manufacturers are vigilant, conscionable and responsible when it comes to their raw material sources. It is extremely difficult to know what it is exactly we are eating and to a certain degree, dining has become a literal act of faith.
Since I've mentioned 'fish by-products', I will also mention 'meat by-products' in animal/pet food. Simply put, by law these by-products are allowed to contain, meat scraps, organ meats, meat from 'downers' (sick animals which means infected tissue, tumors, etc), and everything else that's left over after filleting/deboning or butchering. There is a very real risk of contracting the prion disease BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as 'mad cow disease' or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD in humans. Forms of prion disease care capable infecting many mammals. http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm136222.htm
MY ADVICE IS TO AVOID THESE BY-PRODUCTS AT ALL COSTS WHEN THEY ARE LISTED AS THE PREDOMINANT INGREDIENT IN YOUR PETS' FOOD. CHANGE BRANDS AS NECESSARY IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS.
Even the bleakest situation has some upside and the morbid one in the current Gulf Oil spill is no exception. I predict that microbial contamination of the Gulf is bound to change one way or another. Petrochemicals are quite anti-microbial, even being used in the form of 'coal tar' in ointments and shampoos. Petrochemicals, as coal tar and in other incarnations kill everything from bacteria to head lice, so we shall wait and see specifically transpires in the microflora and fauna of the Gulf waters.
It will be my sad duty to stay on top of the safety of food of Gulf-origin and to report to you regularly. You can read it here...or sign up for my FREE NEWSLETTER at email: BarbaraKSexton@aol.com and get health news immediately. (For removal from NEWSLETTER LIST, Just write 'NO' in subject line, no worries.)
For You With Love in Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/
Here's the FDA link about the multi-agency response to the Gulf oil spill. Just remember it's from some of the same folks who insisted there would be no long-term health ramifications for Sept 11, 2001 first-responders!:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210970.htm
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Update - May 5, 2010\Multi-government agency response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other Federal agencies, and several state authorities in the regions affected by the recent oil spill. FDA continues to closely monitor this developing situation and its potential impact on the safety of seafood harvested from the area.
Although crude oil has the potential to taint seafood with flavors and odors caused by exposure to hydrocarbon chemicals, the public should not be concerned about the safety of seafood in stores at this time. There is no reason to believe that any contaminated product has made its way to the market.
Federal and state officials are monitoring the waters from which seafood is harvested and will act to close areas contaminated by the oil spill to fishing and shellfish harvesting. NOAA has the authority to close Federal waters to commercial fishing and states have the authority to close waters within the state 3-mile limit.
NOAA has already closed a large area of the Gulf of Mexico to commercial fishing and some state molluscan shellfish beds have been closed in anticipation of the oil nearing the shoreline. Closely monitoring and, if warranted, closing harvest waters which could be exposed to the oil spill should prevent unsafe seafood from reaching the market. If, despite these steps, adulterated seafood is found on the market, both the FDA and the states have the authority to seize such product and remove it from the food supply.
Fish and shellfish harvested from areas unaffected by the closures are considered safe to eat.
From: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210970.htm
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