CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Marin County
Date: 4/28/2017
Number: 17-040
Contact: Ali Bay - (916) 440-7259
SACRAMENTO —The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams or whole scallops from Marin County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from this region, making them unsafe to consume.
The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.
Consumers are also reminded to avoid consumption of crab viscera from crabs caught in the affected area as crabs consume bivalve shellfish and could accumulate some of the PSP toxin in their gut. Crab meat is not impacted by PSP toxin.
Although there have been no reports of illnesses related to this event in California, PSP toxins affects the central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms are typically followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur.
This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.
For current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page.