Researchers investigate using electron beams to clear oysters of vibrio

Researchers at Texas A and M University are studying a new way to remove Vibrio Vulnificus from raw oysters.

Raw oysters contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus can be life threatening or even fatal when eaten by someone with liver disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

Virus infection risks from consumption of raw oysters in the U.S. are estimated to cost around $200 million a year.

To address the issue of health risk from eating raw oysters, Texas A&M and a team of researchers from other agencies and institutions, studied how electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce the possibility of food poisoning through virus.

There are already a number of methods to remove Vibrio from oysters including quick freezing and high-pressure treatment and the e-beam pasteurization technology shows some promise because it uses commercial electricity to generate the ionizing radiation that inactivates the viruses.

It is also a green technology because no chemicals are involved.

At this time, however, electron-beam technology is not being used for commercial oysters sold in the U.S.

The study can be found in the June issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology or online at the American Society of Microbiology website,http://aem.asm.org.

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