Grocery Store Oysters - ok to feed?

[astreck827]

I found these oysters at my local grocery store on clearance and I am wondering if they are safe to use. They are refrigerated and come in a plastic cup, and the ingredients just say "oysters, water." It also says at the top "COOK THOROUGHLY." I wonder if that is because they are raw or because you must reheat them to a certain temperature for safety. Has anyone used these before?

 

[liddojunior]

Yes. But it’s probably more expensive options for fish food.
I know these are used to feed large freshwater puffers

 

[astreck827]

Yes. But it’s probably more expensive options for fish food.
I know these are used to feed large freshwater puffers

Normally they are $8.99/each but they must have been discontinuing them because they were on sale for $3.00. I picked up a few but haven't fed them yet.

 

[Gtinnel]

Normally they are $8.99/each but they must have been discontinuing them because they were on sale for $3.00. I picked up a few but haven't fed them yet.

How did feeding these oysters work out. I just bought a can of them also and was trying to decide if they’re safe to feed because my grocery store didn’t have any fresh oysters or clams.

 

[o2manyfish]

I buy the oysters that look like that bu in a glass jar from the seafood department when they are in season. I throw one into a blender and blend the crap out of if and then pour it into the tank. I usually do a small dose and then wait 30 mins and then pour the rest in.

Oysters had a very high blood to tissue ratio and a higher concentration of red blood cells (I think that's what it was) than other seafoods. The blood content in the oysters trigger a feeding response in the corals and they open up to eat, and that's when I dose the remainder of the oyster broth.

It's a stinky endeavour and it fouls the tank for a several hours if not overnight till things clear up, and it might make your skimmate a lil stinkier than normal.

But the results are very positive.

Dave B

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I buy the oysters that look like that bu in a glass jar from the seafood department when they are in season. I throw one into a blender and blend the crap out of if and then pour it into the tank. I usually do a small dose and then wait 30 mins and then pour the rest in.

Oysters had a very high blood to tissue ratio and a higher concentration of red blood cells (I think that's what it was) than other seafoods. The blood content in the oysters trigger a feeding response in the corals and they open up to eat, and that's when I dose the remainder of the oyster broth.

It's a stinky endeavour and it fouls the tank for a several hours if not overnight till things clear up, and it might make your skimmate a lil stinkier than normal.

But the results are very positive.

Dave B

Will totally try this one!

 

[KrisReef]

I found a plastic container at Walmart filled with the things. I chopped it up and froze them and break off chunks to thaw and feed our fishes. So far the fish seem to like it. I have bought Oyster Feast in the past and I think it’s also just oysters that swam in the blender. The coral love it

 

[Timfish]

THey're not presserved with some kind of phosphate or any other preservative so I'd use them.

 

[Gtinnel]

THey're not presserved with some kind of phosphate or any other preservative so I'd use them.

There is not sodium tripolyphosphate in the ingredients list, but there is a disclaimer that the ingredients may not be accurate. Plus I have been told that they are not required to list sodium tripolyphosphate in the ingredient list, but I’m not sure how true that is.
Since I can’t find anything suggesting I shouldn’t use it I’m going to use it to see how it goes.

 

[mtfish]

I work for TX Dept of State Health Services. We regulate the oyster industry in Texas. All shucked product has to come from a certified shellfish dealer (national regulations). If from Virginia, it would show VA- XXX with a number that shows original dealer, the place of origin and shuck date. This information will show how fresh the product is. I would have no issues using shucked oysters that came from a certified dealer.

 

[redfishbluefish]

There is not sodium tripolyphosphate in the ingredients list, but there is a disclaimer that the ingredients may not be accurate. Plus I have been told that they are not required to list sodium tripolyphosphate in the ingredient list, but I’m not sure how true that is.
Since I can’t find anything suggesting I shouldn’t use it I’m going to use it to see how it goes.

You are correct about not requiring TPP being listed on the label. Check out THIS LINK where it's discussed.

 

[mtfish]

You are correct about not requiring TPP being listed on the label. Check out THIS LINK where it's discussed.

This may be true of some seafood, but oysters are not one of the products that use TPP as a preservative. Most shucked product is consumed withing 2 weeks of harvest.

 

[Gtinnel]

You are correct about not requiring TPP being listed on the label. Check out THIS LINK where it's discussed.

I remember reading it on the forum, but I don’t remember who posted it. It very well could’ve been from you.

So after reading the link I decided to try to verify that it doesn’t have to be listed. From what I understand all ingredients (including preservatives) have to be listed on the ingredient list. However, there is a huge list of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) additives that do not follow the same regulations from the FDA. With STPP being on the GRAS list then as I understand it, that article is correct and it would not be required to be listed. Which is kind of insane since the report that deemed it safe was from nearly 40 years ago. Surely in that time frame our understanding of what is and isn’t safe has evolved.

 

[Gtinnel]

This may be true of some seafood, but oysters are not one of the products that use TPP as a preservative. Most shucked product is consumed withing 2 weeks of harvest.

That’s perfect. I read that it is commonly used in flaky meats like fish and found no mention of it being used with oysters.