Herpes in the Deep:

It seems herpes, the scourge of the unprotected sex world, is also a problem for some of our favourite and most delicious little ocean friends. You’ve heard the rumours and you can’t believe it’s true. Can oysters get herpes? How? Why! Well, as far as we know, it is not as a result of oysters shunning condoms in preference of a more intimate romantic experience. Let’s take a look at some of the facts:

Our Love Affair With Oysters

For those that enjoy oysters, there is little else that can titillate their taste buds as much as these salty and squishy seafood superstars. Oysters are a culinary delicacy enjoyed the world over and, for those addicted to their delights, nothing can take their place. Whether they’re enjoyed crumbed and fried, Mornay (a cheesy sauce), Kilpatrick (bacon and Worcestershire sauce) or the classic “au naturel” (straight-up) they are a favourite and occupy pole position on many a top restaurant’s menu. Their popularity has resulted in a multi-billion-dollar oyster farming industry that supplies these miracle molluscs to consumers in every corner of the globe.

Why the Delicious Little Oyster is Also Good For You

Oysters are more than just an umami taste explosion. They are also good for health reasons, with just 1g of carbs and 19 calories per oyster. If you're trying to lose weight or eat healthier, oysters can be an excellent addition to your diet.

They are high in vitamins, minerals, and protein and they contain healthy fats that promote brain health. Sounds like a compelling argument to eat some oysters rather than the fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese you had planned for dinner.

Oysters Are The Oceans Filters

Not only are oysters delicious and good for you, they are also good for the planet. Yes, these little miracles of the sea perform an important role in maintaining water purity in their watery neighbourhoods. As the feed they filter up to 200 litres of water a day, removing algae and plankton from the water which they use as dinner for themselves. However, as you can imagine, filtering water for dinner is only as good as the local water quality and problems can occur when the water has impurities. Certain bacteria and viruses can end up in the oysters and can affect not only the health of the oyster but also the oyster eater.

Will Oysters Give Me Herpes?

As we all probably know, herpes is a virus. But you may not know that oyster herpes is a serious problem for the industry that can destroy oysters and decimate oyster farms. However, when it comes to humans, you definitely cannot get herpes from eating an oyster infected with oyster herpes, nor will it make you sick.

However, we must warn you, oysters are a well regarded aphrodisiac and that comes with risks of its own. For example, should you enjoy a tasty half dozen at your local bistro during a candlelit Tinder date, there’s a good chance you might feel so loved up after your oyster entree that you throw safe-sex caution to the wind. Such risky business may result in the necessity of a visit to that clinic you were trying to avoid. And, unfortunately, you won’t be able to blame the oysters for that...