Georgia oysters could be dangerous

Warm waters and a bacteria risk mean the state is banning oyster harvesting in Georgia until October. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports coastal waters have reached at least 81 degrees. That is the point the National Shellfish Sanitation Program says oysters can develop a bacteria that makes people sick. Commercial and recreational harvesting is off limits.

Woman dies from eating raw oysters

Fulton County health officials are warning people not to eat raw shellfish because of possible contamination. This comes in the wake of the death of a woman after she ate bacteria-laced raw oysters at a restaurant in Atlanta in early August. The unidentified woman ate the uncooked oysters several days before her death. Health officials are investigating the Spondivits Seafood and Steaks restaurant in Hapeville, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A restaurant chef says it will not serve oysters again until cooler weather arrives. Oysters and other shellfish harvested from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in summer months may be contaminated with bacteria by the time they arrive at restaurants.