The Gulf oil spill is forcing the removal of oysters from Red Lobster’s menu.
A Franklin, La., processing plant that provided Orlando-based Darden Restaurants with oysters for its Red Lobster chain shut down last week because it was unable to maintain its supply.

AmeriPure Processing Co.’s co-owner and founder said the closure could last through October.
Once Red Lobster’s current supply runs out, probably in the next couple of weeks, oysters will come off the menu, Darden spokesman Rich Jeffers said Monday. It’s uncertain when they’ll return.

Jeffers said oysters make up only a small portion of its Red Lobster sales, but he did not provide a percentage.

Capital Grille, Darden's upscale steakhouse chain, uses oysters from outside the Gulf and will continue to serve them, Jeffers said. Seasons 52 does not serve them, he said.

AmeriPure is known for a special method of treating oysters to kill off harmful bacteria. The process includes bathing them in warm water, followed by an ice-cold shock bath to stop the transfer of heat.