Why did oysters turn from cheap food to expensive luxury?

Oysters in some countries can be considered a delicacy with a variety of recipes, but this is not always the case.

Just 200 years ago, this shellfish was extremely cheap and could be used as a free food for everyone.

Oysters have appeared on earth for a long time. It is estimated that this shellfish has existed for about 300 million years, and humans have used them for food for centuries.

Oyster farming began to be developed by Sergius Orata, a Roman engineer known for the invention of underfloor heating equipment, and since its inception and spread, oyster farming has become a business profession. Extremely developed business. Although you may see oysters appear on the menu more recently, their popularity is now nothing compared to just 200 years ago.

The oyster trading business exploded in the early 19th century, and the animal was sold as street food across London, Paris and New York because it was still a super cheap snack as well as easy access to many walks of life. In 1860, a small town on the British coast of Whitstead shipped 50 million tons of oysters to London each year and by 1900 New York consumed 1 million oysters a day.

Oysters used to be cheap street food in many European countries.(Source: BI).

But as the popularity increased, problems related to this dish also appeared. Industrialization and dredging of waters in the UK has led to overfishing , and as more people move to the coastal areas, more and more waste water is dumped into oyster farming waters. Soon, typhoid and other diseases emerged, and many oyster trading companies closed.

The harsh winter and new diseases killed many of the remaining native oysters, giving the animal a bad reputation that lasted for many years thereafter. Another cause of falling oyster prices in the early 20th century: child labor . In the early 20th century, American photographer Lewis Hine took pictures of many children working in the oyster industry, even taking a picture of a 4-year-old Mary, who had to shave two pots of oysters every day. .

Everything had to change. Everyone in the world soon realized the importance of clean water in oyster farming and did not allow the use of child labor. Of course, making oysters safe to the environment and legal and ethical will also pay a price, as shellfish take a lot of work to produce. Therefore, the price of oysters has skyrocketed. The price of oysters ranges from 36 to 54 USD / 12 pieces (from about 850,000 VND to 1.25 million VND). Some oysters are more expensive, for example, Sydney oysters cost up to 198 USD / 6 (over 4.5 million VND).

Each oyster takes two to three years to mature since the size is small only visible with a microscope. This animal was originally raised in a hatchery. When they are old enough, they are transplanted into the last growing site.

'We get oysters from the hatchery when they are extremely small in size. We will grow them in rearing baskets for two to three years, and then we will send them to the disinfection center for disinfection, then pack and ship, 'says Andre Hughes, a farming farmer. Oysters said.

Oysters may only have a nine-day shelf life , but that does not prevent them from being shipped globally. And with the popularity and image of being a delicacy, the demand for this animal is constantly increasing.

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