Food Poisoning Outbreak Costs Oyster Farmer

NEW ZEALAND - A New Zealand oyster farmer says his company stands to lose thousands of dollars in business after a major food poisoning incident at Eden Park.

Contaminated Korean oysters, served raw at a rugby test match last month, caused an estimated 352 people to fall ill, the country's largest documented foodborne gastroenteritis outbreak.

The Food Safety Authority has suspended all imports of the Korean shellfish but oyster farmers want to a total ban, such as introduced in Australia two years ago.

Aquaculture Council chair Callum McCullum says the story has prompted concern from overseas clients who thought New Zealand oysters were to blame.

His company, Clevedon Coast Oysters, usually supplies the Eden Park caterers, who are now removing oysters from the menu for six months.

Source: National Business Review