Why Oysters Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Summary

Oysters, once a common snack, evolved into a luxury food due to overfishing, pollution, and disease outbreaks that marred their reputation. With increased awareness of clean water and ethical labor practices, oyster farming has become more sustainable and labor-intensive, elevating their status. Today, each oyster undergoes a rigorous depuration process, ensuring quality and safety, contributing to their global demand and high-end image.

Takeaways

• 🦪 Oysters were once considered common and were given out as free bar snacks.
• 📚 Oysters have been a part of human diet for centuries, with a history of around 300 million years.
• 🏛️ Roman engineer Sergius Orata is credited with inventing oyster cultivation.
• 📈 Oyster sales peaked in the early 19th century, with massive consumption in cities like London, Paris, and New York.
• 🌍 In 1860, Whitstable, UK, sent 50 million tons of oysters to London annually, and by 1900, New York consumed 1 million oysters daily.
• 🚫 Industrialization and pollution led to overfishing and disease outbreaks, causing many oyster beds to close.
• 🤒 Health concerns due to typhoid and other diseases associated with oysters tarnished their reputation.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Child labor was prevalent in the early 20th-century oyster industry, with children performing labor-intensive tasks.
• 🌱 The realization of the importance of clean water and the banning of child labor increased the cost of producing oysters.
• 🦠 Depuration, a process that cleans oysters and removes bacteria, is crucial for their safety.
• 🌐 Despite a nine-day shelf life, oysters are shipped globally and are increasingly seen as a luxury food.

Q & A

How long have oysters been around?

Oysters have been around for approximately 300 million years.

Who is credited with inventing oyster cultivation?

Sergius Orata, a Roman engineer, is credited with inventing oyster cultivation.

What was the peak of oyster popularity like in the 19th century?

In the early 19th century, oyster sales boomed, and they were sold as street food across London, Paris, and New York, being a cheap and accessible snack.

What was the annual oyster export from Whitstable to London in 1860?

The British seaside town of Whitstable was sending 50 million tons of oysters to London each year in 1860.

How many oysters were consumed daily in New York by 1900?

By 1900, New York was consuming 1 million oysters every day.

What problems arose with the increased popularity of oysters?

Problems included overfishing due to industrialization and dredging, pollution from sewage, outbreaks of typhoid and other diseases, and hard winters that killed off many native oysters.

What role did child labor play in the oyster industry at the turn of the century?

Child labor was common in the oyster industry at the turn of the century, with children like 4-year-old Mary shucking oysters daily.

What changes were made to improve the safety and ethics of oyster production?

The importance of clean water in oyster-growing was realized, child labor was outlawed, and the process of depuration was introduced to clean the oysters and remove bacteria.

How long does it take for an oyster to mature?

It takes two to three years for an oyster to mature.

What is the process of depuration and why is it important?

Depuration is a process that cleans the oysters and removes any dangerous bacteria, ensuring they are safe for consumption.

How are oysters checked for quality before being shipped?

Each oyster is checked by hand to ensure they are live. They are tapped together, and any that do not close properly are discarded.

What is the shelf life of oysters after they are harvested?

Oysters have a shelf life of approximately nine days after they are harvested.