CDPH Lifts Toxic Shellfish Warning for Mendocino County

April 12, 2017

The California Department of Public Health has lifted the February 2 toxic shellfish health advisory for Mendocino County. The advisory had warned consumers not to eat recreationally harvested bivalve shellfish due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Recent tests indicate shellfish in these areas are now safe to consume.
 
Advisories remain in effect for Humboldt County (sport-harvested razor clams) and Del Norte County (sport-harvested razor clams, sport-harvested bivalve shellfish and crab viscera).
 
While there have been no reported illnesses associated with these events, dangerous levels of PSP toxins can cause illness or death.
 
PSP toxins affect the central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours 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.

For current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call CDPH's toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/environhealth/water/Pages/MarineBiotoxinMonitoring.aspx.