"Sea Milk" Oysters: Growing Environment, Price, and Parasites from Eating Them Raw
The oyster, also known as lihuang or hailizi, is a fairly common type of seafood in China. Because it is rich in amino acids and trace elements, it is deeply loved by people. At present, it is farmed in many regions of China, so where do oysters grow? How much is it per jin? Are there parasites if eaten raw?
Growing regions:
It is a marine shellfish. Oyster farming is suitable in subtropical and tropical coastal areas. It is widely distributed in China, from the Yalu River in the north to Hainan Island in the south, and oysters can be produced along the coast. The oyster is a soft-bodied, shelled animal that lives attached as a parasite, and those produced where saltwater and freshwater meet are especially plump and delicious.
Latest oyster prices:
The specific price depends on the local area, and you can buy them at the seafood market.
Zhanjiang oyster wholesale price description
Small oysters, size 2--3 liang each, 380--400 per case
Medium oysters, size 3--4 liang each, 250--270 per case
Medium-large oysters, size 4--5 liang each, 200--220 per case
Large oysters, size 5--6 liang each, 180--200 per case
French oysters, size 2~3 liang each, 21 yuan each, 48 per case
French oysters, size 1~2 liang each, 18 yuan each, 48 per case
Australian oysters, size 1~2 liang each, 11 yuan each, 48 per case
The market price should be somewhat more expensive than the wholesale price. You can refer to the wholesale price before deciding whether to buy oysters.
Are there parasites if eaten raw?
Parasites exist in the bodies of oysters. In fact, no matter which animal it is, parasites exist in its body. The key lies in whether it is cooked thoroughly when eaten, killing the parasites. If you eat oysters that are not cooked thoroughly or eat them raw, and there are zoonotic parasites in them, there is a risk of infection. Also, if there are too many parasites in oysters, it will affect the flesh quality and taste, because the nutrients in them are eaten by the parasites. Therefore, eat cooked oysters as much as possible to avoid the risks brought by parasites.
In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration points out that oysters contain two highly destructive pathogens: norovirus and Vibrio cholerae. Norovirus may cause gastroenteritis; Vibrio cholerae can cause high fever, septic shock, ulcerative skin blisters, and can even cause fatal sepsis. Therefore, the dangers of eating oysters raw are very high, so eating oysters raw should be avoided as much as possible. Of course, if oysters are thoroughly cooked before eating, then the chance of infection with parasites or pathogens can be greatly reduced.
It is worth noting that oysters are slightly cold in nature, and eating them can easily make the body feel weak and cold. Therefore, people with a weak and cold constitution, pregnant women, and women during menstruation should all avoid eating them.