Franklin County begins work on response to proposed FDA oyster ban

Franklin County commissioners have started working on plans to stop an FDA proposal that could ban the sale of raw oysters for 5 to 7 months out of the year. The Food and Drug Administration has announced its intention to ban the sale of raw Gulf Coast oysters between May and October beginning in 2011 to protect oyster consumers from the naturally occurring Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Vibrio causes an estimated 30 illnesses every year and about 15 deaths – almost all of the people affected by the bacteria have pre-existing conditions that weaken their immune systems. The raw oyster ban would be devastating to Franklin County’s economy as well as to other seafood towns from Florida to Texas and county commissioners want to make sure the ban never takes effect. As commissioner Cheryl Sanders put it – Franklin County spent a lot of money fighting the water wars to protect its oysters and it would be dumb not to protect our oysters from this threat too. County Commissioners met Tuesday to discuss the issue and to start working on a plan to fight the FDA. They hope to address the issue from a number of fronts – the first is to join a group called the Gulf Oyster Industry Council which represents oyster interests along the Gulf Coast. They county believes that step may help build a larger group from numerous states to fight the FDA. They are also looking at legal action – the board voted Tuesday to have its attorney look at filing an injunction against the FDA and to begin talks with other groups to begin coordinating other legal steps the county may want to take. And the board is looking at political means of fighting the FDA. They agreed to approach the governor’s office for assistance and are sending a letter to our congressman and senator asking for assistance that they hope will be delivered to President Barrack Obama. In the letter they plan to invite the president to Franklin County so he can see the potential impacts of the FDA ban for himself. The board is also looking at ways of gathering public support for their fight starting with this year’s seafood festival. The commission asked that the Seafood Workers Association set up a booth at the festival where they can distribute pamphlets and begin a signature drive. On Tuesday the commission will also consider providing funding for the local oyster and seafood industry task force. That money would allow Task force director Kevin Begos to act as the spokesman for the local oyster industry and to collect data that the commission feels will be necessary to fight the FDA plan.

http://www.oysterradio.com