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Your Oyster is Our World

Food Safety
Kooringal Oysters uses the Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (ASQAP) as a guideline for growing, harvest and post harvest handling of product.
Reference: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/pages/aquaculture/sasqap/asqap_manual_final.pdf

The proposed Primary Production and Processing Standards for Seafood incorporates the ASQAP guidelines and is currently proposing that . "Specifically, for bivalve molluscs there will be mandatory requirements to comply with pre-harvest provisions in the Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program so they are only harvested under conditions that assure their safety. In addition, businesses that deal with bivalve molluscs post-harvest up to (but not including) the retail sector will be required to implement food safety programs."

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/P265 Seafood PPPS DAR Final.doc#_Toc73175920

Currently Moreton Bay Growing Area waters are monitored by Qld Fisheries under a program audited by AQIS to comply with the preharvest provisions of ASQAP.
Into the future Safe Food Queensland will regulate the post harvest standards required for oyster production. While these standards are being developed, Kooringal Oysters implements its own harvest and post harvest food safety program using ASQAP guidelines.
Some of the major points are :

  • All stock shipped to market are grown and harvested from our own Open Classification growing waters in Moreton Bay Marine Park, with salinities around 34 ppm.

  • All product shipped is inspected and graded prior to packing in waxed, branded cardboard boxes. - You know you are getting Kooringal Oysters.

  • All product enters the cool chain at 12° - 14° C within 24 hours of harvest, and is shipped under controlled cool conditions in a refrigerated truck either direct to our Brisbane clients, or to refrigerated transport depots for pick up.

  • Weekly shipments in season ensure regular access to fresh product.

Grading
Our electronic grading system, designed by Shellfish Equipment Tasmania, controls the selection and counting of oysters within preset size parameters. All product is graded prior to sale.The benefits are :

  • Increased shelf life on delivery as product is packed, in the cool chain and delivered to client more quickly

  • Inspection and rejection of dead shell by sight

  • Rejection of undersize product

  • Consistency and accuracy in product delivery.

  • The work done on the farm reduces rejection rates in processing facilities.

  • This, combined with the ease of shucking a single seed oyster ( an oyster grown through it's life cycle as a single item, not in a reef/stick situation), facilitates the processing operation.

  • Presentation of a consistently shaped and sized product is a feast for the eyes and facilitates marketing.