Scientists Create ‘Supercharged’ Vitamin-Stuffed Oysters

Connecticut is home to over 70,000 acres of shellfish farms. The shellfish that come out of Long Island Sound and the surrounding waters of the Atlantic are globally renowned. Every year, over 200,000 bushels of oysters are harvested in our waters. Both Milford and Norwalk hold annual oyster festivals, where thousands of the delicious bivalves are grubbed down.

It caught my attention this morning that a group of scientists at Cambridge University in England have figured out a way to 'Supercharge' shellfish with all of the daily vitamins that we need. In an article posted by studyfinds.org, the team experimented on clams, mussels, and oysters. They fed the shellfish nutrient-packed 'Vitamin bullets', tiny capsules stuffed with vitamins, hours before they were sent to their final destination doom - a human stomach.

The concept was a simple one, feed an oyster/clam/mussel something, eat it, and then measure how much of the 'Vitamin bullets' transferred into the human body. We don't eat all parts of the animals we consume most of the time, but with shellfish, you do. Shellfish are extremely healthy and protein-packed, and as we can see off of our Connecticut shoreline, shellfish are one of our planet's most sustainable animals.

In the Cambridge study, their test oysters were given the 'Vitamin bullets' packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin D, two of the most common vitamins that most of the world's population have deficient levels in, and after eating just two of their fortified oysters, the test subjects reached their RDA's (Recommended Daily Allowance) of both Vitamins.

Long story short, this "Trojan Oyster" study has opened up a world of possibilities in helping the malnourished populations of underdeveloped countries as well as our own. Land farming and meat processing is very expensive. As we see here, along the Connecticut coastline, the sustainable shellfish beds that dot the coast could be seen as floating beds of vitamin capsules should the Cambridge University concept catch on.

The scientists are already in touch with seafood manufacturers about testing out their concept on more bivalves, and are touting the fact that each of their injections cost a fraction of a penny. The mere thought of getting all of my daily recommended dose of vitamins by getting a half-dozen in the half-shell? God I love experiments.