Why do the stomachs of oysters vary in color and why do they sometimes leach out brownish-red liquid?
The easy answer is, “it depends on what the oysters ate.” Oysters filter large amounts of water that may contain colorful algae. The filtrates concentrate in the belly of the oyster. If red algae are present, the oyster’s belly may look red or the red pigment may leach into the liquid in the jar. This often takes a few days to occur and is non-toxic.
