New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has issued a shellfish biotoxin warning for Northland and extended an existing warning for the Hawke's Bay and East Cape regions following the detection of paralytic shellfish toxins in routine testing.
"Routine tests on mussels from Houhora have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit," NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said today.
The warning in Northland extends from Cape Karikari to Kokota, just south of Parengarenga Harbour.
The current warning in Hawke's Bay has been extended to encompass much of the East Coast, from Cape Kidnappers right up to East Cape.
NZFS said shellfish toxin levels are increasing in these areas, with the latest results from Tolaga Bay mussels rising "dramatically" to "11 times over the safe limit."
As algal blooms increase in size, the levels of toxins in shellfish can reach higher levels.
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include numbness and a tingling feeling around the mouth, face, hands and feet, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dizziness and headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, paralysis, respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.
Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, said Arbuckle.
However, NZFS said that pāua, crab and crayfish can be eaten provided that the gut is completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If it is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
Anyone who becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued is urged to contact their nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish for testing.
"New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation," said Arbuckle.
Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by NZFS to ensure they are safe to eat.
SHARE ME