02/12/2011
Novovirus study in oysters

The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group welcomes the latest study by the Food Standards Agency into the occurrence of novovirus in oysters, which has provided a useful platform for increasing our understanding of its nature and occurrence.

The FSA study, which was carried out with “excellent” co-operation from oyster farmers,   found that novovirus was detected in three-quarters of British-grown oysters tested (novovirus is also known as the winter vomiting bug). However, the FSA says it is difficult to assess the health impact of these findings, as the available research techniques are not able to identify between infectious and non-infectious novovirus material within oysters; additionally the FSA states that most novovirus infections are believed to be caused by person-to-person contact although foodborne infection accounts for a proportion of cases. Furthermore, a safe limit for novovirus has not been established. The research has also not identified any new food risk and FSA advice on eating raw shellfish is unchanged.

The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group already operates continuous and rigorous monitoring processes on our oysters to maintain product safety and we welcome this latest research for providing important baseline data, which could pave the way for the development of new European regulatory standards and controls should these be required. We will be working closely with the FSA, SEPA and other organisations to facilitate this process.

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