The public has been warned not to eat shellfish collected from the Taranaki coast after the discovery of paralytic toxins. Photo: NIWA/Rebekah Parsons-King
New Zealand Food Safety (NZSF) is urging the public not to eat shellfish collected from the Taranaki coast after the discovery of paralytic shellfish toxins.
NZSF said routine tests on mussels have shown levels over the safe limit, with the warning extending from Cape Egmont north to Albatross Point, near Kawhia.
The warning extends from Cape Egmont north to Albatross Point, near Kawhia. Photo: Ministry for Primary Industries
"Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick," said NZSF deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
"Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat's eyes), Cook's turban.
"Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.
"We are monitoring an algal bloom in the region. This type of algae produces a dangerous toxin, and when shellfish filter-feed, these toxins can accumulate in their gut and flesh."
He said NZFS has had no notifications of associated illness so far.
"Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
"Finfish are not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking."
Arbuckle said commercially harvested shellfish are subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by NZFS to ensure they are safe to eat.
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to three hours of eating and may include:
- Numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Dizziness and headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
