Why Are Oysters Eaten Alive?

When you eat raw oysters, they're either still alive or freshly killed. Most people think keeping them alive longer makes them safer to eat, says Business Insider. But one oyster expert says, "The risk of running into a bad oyster is lower than people think it is." It's hard to tell exactly when an oyster dies, because before it's served, it's shucked. Most restaurants in the US keep their oysters alive on ice until they're shucked.