California Public Health detects toxins in San Luis Obispo shellfish
Mussel quarantine remains in effect through Oct. 31
– The California Department of Public Health is advising consumers not to eat sport-harvested mussels, clams, scallops or oysters from San Luis Obispo County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have been detected in mussels from the county. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.
This shellfish safety notification is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine, which prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption along the California coast, including all bays and estuaries, through at least Oct. 31.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins affect the nervous system. Symptoms can begin within minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish and include tingling around the mouth and fingertips, followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. Severe cases can lead to complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation.
The warning does not apply to commercially sold mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products, and shellfish from certified sources are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.
For current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call the CDPH Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or view the recreational bivalve shellfish advisory interactive map. Additional information is available on the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page.
