Frequenly Asked Questions

Are oysters safe to eat year-round?
Yes, due to the quality control procedures and testing procedures put in place, oysters from certified oyster dealers are safe year round.

What are Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
Vibro’s are natural organisms found in the water and they multiply when the water temperature goes over 71 degrees. With Leavins Seafood freezing process the vibrio are at an undetectable level.

Can the average oyster consumer detect any flavor or texture difference between fresh and frozen/frosted oysters?
Not if the frozen/frosted oysters are properly handled during the freezing process. Leavins Seafood oysters are frozen under the most strict state of the art freezing procedures.

What is the difference between Shellstock, Shucked and Frozen oysters?
Shellstock are any oysters that are in the whole shell or half shell form. Shucked are oysters that have been removed from the shell and are in meat form only. Frozen can be whole shell, half shell or oyster meat.

Are oysters wild or farm-raised?
Oysters are harvested from a natural setting making them a “wild” form of seafood.  Today Leavins Seafood is re-planting oyster shell in our private harvest areas which is a form of aquaculture.

Are oysters a sustainable resource?
Yes, Leavins Seafood is sustaining the resource thru replanting oyster shell in our oyster beds.

Who is the primary authority to open and close oyster harvesting waters and regulate oyster processing in Florida?
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the primary authority.

What is required to be on the oyster labels?

• Certified dealers name and original shipper’s certification number
• Harvest date and harvest location
  
• Type of shellfish
  
• Quantity of shellfish
  
• Sell-by date
  
• Note that the tag is required to be attached until container is empty and kept on file for a 90 day period.

What is the shelf-life of the oysters?
All frozen shucked oysters have a shelf life of two years (14 days once thawed).

What is the grading scale on oysters produced by Leavins Seafood?
Prime Oysters (sometimes call Extra Select)
Select Oysters
Standard Oysters

Is Leavins Seafood in compliance with the HACCP regulations?
Leavins Seafood has a complete HACCP plan in place.

Is Leavins Seafood a certified shellfish dealer?
Leavins Seafood is a certified shellfish dealer licensed and certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

For more information:

Food and Drug Administration/FDA – Bacterial Pathogens in Foods http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html

Food and Drug Administration/FDA – HACCP http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/haccpsea.html

Food and Drug Administration/FDA – Vibrio information http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html

Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference/ISSC
www.issc.org

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Web site
http://www.floridaaquaculture.com/index.htm

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – FAQ http://www.floridaaquaculture.com/faq.htm#shellfishhandling