Oysters raw, but mussels cooked! Why?

[nellypope]

How come you can eat oysters raw, but mussels must be cooked? They are both filter feeders aren't they?

[Anngel123]

Apparently the toxic chemicals in them start to multiply 6 hours after removal from the seawater environment. And you can also eat oysters cooked. In fact after hearing a recent piece of news about a new strain of MRSA found in raw meat and shellfish you appear to be undertaking a health lottery eating anything raw, except vegetable. Although there is often nasty stuff on veg if now washed enough. Water it is then.....LOL