Clams

Clam

       A wiki link on American clams can be found at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam

            A wiki link on salt water clams can be found at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venerupis_philippinarum

One bottom line is to use whatever you can get where you live, and as long as you are satisfied it is safe to eat. If you can buy it at a seafood market, someone has probably already checked the food safety issues out, in which case cook and eat away.

            A wiki link on mussels can be found at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel