FDA warns of paralyzing danger of toxin from northwest US shellfish

Published 2024년 6월 11일

Tridge summary

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning against the consumption of seafood, specifically bay oysters and clams, harvested in certain bays in Oregon and Washington state since late May due to a potentially paralyzing toxin, saxitoxin. This toxin, produced by algae, can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which can look, smell, and taste normal, making it difficult to detect. The toxin cannot be removed by cooking or freezing. At least 20 people have fallen ill from this outbreak in Oregon, leading to the closure of the state's coast for fishing and shellfish harvesting. The FDA has advised consumers to avoid shellfish from these areas and has warned retailers and restaurants in states that have distributed the contaminated shellfish to cease serving them. The FDA also highlighted that PSP symptoms, which include numbness, vomiting, and irregular heartbeat, can be treated effectively if detected early.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

TUESDAY, June 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Seafood lovers should stay away from seafood from Oregon and Washington state due to possible contamination with a paralyzing toxin, the Food and Drug Administration has warned ( US FDA In an advisory, the FDA told consumers to avoid bay oysters and clams harvested in Netarts and Tillamook Bays in northern Oregon since May 28, as well as shellfish harvested in areas around the bay. from Willapa in southern Washington since May 26. Shellfish harvested in those areas during that period were also distributed to Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and New York, so the FDA has warned restaurants and retailers in those states not to serve the shellfish due to the potential for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). "Foods containing PSP may look, smell, and taste normal. These toxins cannot be removed by cooking or freezing," the agency emphasized. "Consumers of these products who experience symptoms of illness should contact their ...

Source: Infobae