Dodgy oysters poison 12,000 Britons a year

Nearly 12,000 people a year in the UK are being poisoned by eating contaminated oysters, new figures show.

Scientists discovered that more than two-thirds of oysters on sale are infected with the highly contagious norovirus – which causes vomiting and diarrhoea – and estimate that nearly one in six food-related cases of the bug are caused by contaminated oysters, which are usually eaten raw or lightly cooked.

The findings come from two studies. 

Researchers at the Centre for Applied Marine Sciences on Anglesey found oysters were causing about 11,800 cases of norovirus poisoning per year in the UK, while scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science looked at more than 600 samples sold in supermarkets over 12 months.

Their results, published in the journal Food and Environmental Virology, revealed almost 70 per cent of oysters carried the virus.

David Jarrad from the Shellfish Association of Great Britain refuted the findings. He said: ‘You’re more likely to get ill from eating salad than oysters.’

Scientists discovered that more than two-thirds of oysters on sale are infected with the highly contagious norovirus – which causes vomiting and diarrhoea