The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of ionizing radiation to kill foodborne pathogens on crustacean shellfish and extend their shelf life. The April 11 decision is in response to a food additive petition submitted by the National Fisheries Institute 13 years ago. The decision will allow processors of crustaceans including crab, shrimp, … Read more
The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning for shellfish recreationally harvested in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties because they may contain a toxin called domoic acid, which causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) that can lead to severe illness or death. The warning does not apply to commercial shellfish which are subject to … Read more
We’re used to hearing about how food from China is banned from entering the U.S., or that consumer and food safety groups oppose measures to bring food from that country here. But now China has turned the tables by banning all imports of West coast shellfish from its borders. The issue is paralytic shellfish poisoning … Read more
The Seattle and King County Health Department is warning consumers of the dangers of eating raw or undercooked shellfish. The cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in that area have doubled from the yearly average of 4 to 8, just in the month of August. There have been 13 confirmed or probably cases since July 1, … Read more
Shellfish harvesting areas near public beaches in Washington state have been closed to recreational and sport harvest due to the dangers of fecal contamination and marine biotoxins. Commercial harvesting may also be restricted based on selective testing, according to state health authorities. In addition, some areas have been listed as “threatened” meaning they are reaching … Read more
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 … Read more
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers to not eat recreationally harvested mussels and clams, commercially or recreationally caught anchovy and sardines, or internal organs of commercially or recreationally caught crab and lobster from the northern Channel Islands. The Islands are offshore of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Dangerous levels of the … Read more
According to the Washington State Department of Health, Vibrio in shellfish have caused 30 confirmed illnesses in Washington this summer. The presence of the bacteria has closed three commercial growing areas, including Totten Inlet near Olympic, North Bay, and Dabob Bay in north Hood Canal for the rest of the summer. Vibriosis, the illness caused … Read more
The Washington State Department of Health (WDH) has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in six counties near Puget Sound after dangerous levels of the biotoxin Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) were discovered. Commercially harvested shellfish are not included in the closure and should be safe to eat, according to public health authorities. The six counties affected by the recreational … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to not eat raw or partially cooked oysters and clams with tags listing Oyster Bay Harbor in Nassau County, New York as the harvest area. Eight people in several states have been sickened with Vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisoning after consuming those foods. The New York Department of … Read more