California Department Of Public Health Issues Annual Shellfish Safety Warning

Beginning May 1st and continuing through at least October 31st,  the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising consumers not to eat sport harvested mussels along the California coast. The annual warning applies to all species of  mussels and is in effect to protect the public against poisoning that can lead to serious illness.  

Commercially harvested shellfish in restaurants or from fish markets may be safely consumed.  These are not included in the annual safety warning because commercial harvesters in California  are certified by CDPH and subject to strict testing requirements to ensure that all oysters, clams, mussels and scallops entering the marketplace are free of toxins. 

The State’s annual mussel warning is designed to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and  domoic acid poisoning, also known as amnesic shellfish poisoning, in people who might otherwise  consume harvested mussels that have not been tested. Both of these syndromes are from  naturally occurring toxins linked to plankton consumed by shellfish, including mussels and clams.  Cooking does not destroy the toxins. 

Early symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes  of eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms are typically followed by a loss of balance, lack of  muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, a person  may experience trouble breathing, confusion and disorientation, and medical attention should be  sought immediately.  

To minimize potential health risks, sport harvesters should avoid eating mussels that are  recreationally harvested during the summer months beginning May 1st.  

More information about the quarantine, PSP and domoic acid can be found on the CDPH Annual  Mussel Quarantine – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Web page. For updated information on  quarantines and shellfish toxins, call the CDPH Biotoxin Information Line at (800) 553-4133.