FDA backs off oyster ban after strong criticism

WASHINGTON — Facing fierce resistance, the Obama administration on Friday backed off a plan to ban sales of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm weather.The agency told lawmakers it will put the proposal on hold while it studies ways to make consumption of raw oysters more safe, according to several lawmakers.The oyster industry — as well as Democrats and Republicans across the Gulf — blasted the plan as unnecessary government meddling. They said it could have killed a $500 million industry and thousands of jobs.The proposal — which had been slated to go into effect in 2011 — would have prohibited sales of raw oysters from the Gulf for much of the year unless the shellfish were treated to destroy bacteria.About 15 people die each year in the United States from raw oysters infected with Vibrio vulnificus, which typically is found in warm coastal waters between April and October. Most of the deaths occur in people with weak immune systems caused by health problems like liver or kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, or AIDS.The oyster industry has been working with regulators for years to improve its safety performance by improving refrigeration and trying to raise awareness of the hazards to people with weak immune systems.But the FDA says the results haven't improved much.The Gulf region supplies about two-thirds of U.S. oysters, and some people in the industry argue that anti-bacterial procedures such as pasteurization are too costly. They also say the processes ruin the fresh taste and texture of raw oysters, considered a delicacy by many. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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