Are clams alive?

They are very much alive! “Clam” is a somewhat imprecise term from a biology point of view. Laymen tend to think of 'clams' as the subset of bivalves that burrow into something such as sand, gravel, wood, and even softer stone. read more

a. It's only natural to be squeamish about chomping on a creature so recently forcibly demoted from bivalve to univalve status. read more

If it is dead it will be open therefore if it is alive it will be closed. Sometimes they are open but still alive, but if you tap their shell they close it. read more

Clams with a tightly closed shell are alive and can be safely eaten. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tapping the shell of an open clam that is alive causes the shell to immediately close. Clams that remain open after the shell is tapped are dead or dying and should not be eaten. read more