BE CAREFUL OF OYSTERS

Oysters' reputation as an aphrodisiac is overblown, but their potential to ruin your day is not. They can contain the norovirus, Campylobacter, and Vibrio vulnificus. Researchers who studied oysters from "certified-safe" beds discovered that in fact 9 percent were contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. They also found E. coli in high amounts in 100 percent of Gulf Coast locations in USA - one of the world's big oyster fishing grounds.

If you eat your oysters raw, remember that more than three-quarters of intestinal outbreaks involving raw oysters occur in the warm-water months. And be sure to check that the oyster is alive when opening. Cooked oysters, though an anathema for the purist, are a safer bet altogether.

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