Should You Only Eat Mussels in Months With an R ….Here’s the Truth
You may have heard the old saying: only eat mussels in months that contain the letter “R.” That means September through April were considered safe, while May through August were supposedly off-limits.
But is that still true today?
Let’s break down where this rule came from — and whether it still matters in modern kitchens.
Where Did the “R-Month” Rule Come From?
Before refrigeration, strict food safety laws, and regulated shellfish farming, people relied on seasonal patterns to guide what was safe to eat. Coastal communities noticed two important things:
