Raw shellfish consumption and warning labels: results from the 1993 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System...

We used the 1993 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to assess the prevalence of raw shellfish consumption and to find the demographic and behavioral characteristics of raw shellfish consumers. We studied the general impact of warning labels reported by survey respondents. Data were analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression methods. Fourteen percent of the Texas surveyed reported consuming raw shellfish. Respondents with incomes greater than or equal to $25,000 and with education beyond high school were more likely to report consuming raw shellfish than were those with incomes less than $25,000 and with high school diplomas or less. Respondents at risk for acute and chronic drinking, driving while intoxicated, and driving without a seat belt were more likely than those not at risk of these behaviors to report consumption of raw shellfish. We did not find a significant difference between eaters and noneaters of raw shellfish regarding the impact of warning labels: however, among eaters of raw shellfish, older respondents were more likely than younger respondents to report that warning labels had no effect on them.