Avoid Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish From 9 Calif. Counties

SANTA CRUZ – The California Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory to consumers about sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from nine counties in California. Consumers should avoid all recreationally harvested mussels, clams or whole scallops from Santa Cruz, Marin, Alameda and Contra Costa, Sonoma, San Francisco and San Mateo, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties, according to local health department officials.

"Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from this area," the Santa Cruz County Health Services agency said in a statement. "The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans."

Health department officials said cooking does not destroy the toxins. The warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources, which are subject to testing.

Early symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes 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.

Read each county advisory:

• Alameda and Contra Costa
• Sonoma
• Marin
• San Francisco and San Mateo
• Monterey
• San Luis Obispo

These health advisories apply to the entirety of the counties including inside the San Francisco Bay. For additional information visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page or call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133.

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