The California Department of Health is telling consumers not to eat shellfish that are recreationally harvested from Del Norte County in California. The warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops, or oysters from approved sources. These commercially harvested shellfish are subject to frequent mandatory testing by the state government.
PSP toxins affect the central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips. Then, symptoms include a loss of balance, loss of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing.
These symptoms can appear within a few minutes to a few hours after eating the toxic shellfish. In some cases, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur. Cooking does not destroy the toxin. For more information, see the CDPH Marine Biotoxins Frequently Asked Questions page.
