French oyster sales clam up as contamination scare spreads

Last week, health authorities in southwestern France imposed a temporary ban on the sale of oysters from the Bay of Arcachon. The move came in response to a series of food poisoning cases that affected several individuals.

Consumption of oysters has led to multiple cases of gastroenteritis in France during Xmas celebrations in December 2023. © Daniel Bockwoldt / picture alliance / Getty Images

The ban affected many who ate oysters during the yearly Christmas- and New Year celebrations, and sent shockwaves through the oyster industry.

Oyster farmer Philippe Le Gal, saw his sales evaporating. 

"We barely sold 10 percent, almost nothing," he, blaming the recent health scare that has gripped the industry.

The health crisis originated with a norovirus outbreak, a highly contagious virus causing vomiting and diarrhea, detected in oysters from the Bay of Arcachon, near the coastal city of Bordeaux.

🦪 Les producteurs d'#huîtres regrettent "une panique générale, alors qu’on n’est même pas à 10 % de zones contaminées (par le #norovirus) en France" : "Le problème vient des stations d’épuration et pas de notre production", mais "le mal est fait".https://t.co/gkHcVOLH8T /

— Nicolas Berrod (@nicolasberrod) December 31, 2023

Reacting swiftly, local authorities issued a ban on harvesting and selling oysters from the area, and also put restrictions on production in sites in the north of France, notably in Calvados and Manche.

The contamination is thought to be a result of elevated rainwater levels that caused flooding in wastewater treatment plants, as a result of which untreated wastewater to enter the ocean, ultimately contaminating the oysters.

Authorities issued urgent directives for producers to halt sales of already harvested oysters, urging consumers to return them promptly.

"Catastrophic"

Philippe Le Gal, who also serves as the president of the National Shellfish Farming Federation, expressed concern over the panic among consumers, describing the situation as "catastrophic."

Despite less than 10 percent of France's total oyster production being directly affected, approximately 8,000 tonnes annually, the repercussions have reverberated across the entire industry.

Producers blame local authoriteis and point at failing wastewater treatment.

• French health chiefs ban Bordeaux oysters amid norovirus scare

(With newswires)