Updated seafood warnings in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties by CDPH

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its warning Monday to consumers regarding certain seafood caught in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. The warning is due to dangerous levels of a naturally occurring toxin, domoic acid.

CDPH has expanded the existing warning of not eating recreationally caught mussels and clams to also include the internal organs (viscera) of scallops. Only the white meat of scallops should be consumed.

In addition, CDPH has clarified that consumers should not eat the internal organs of commercially or recreationally harvested anchovy and sardines. These fish should beheaded, gutted and rinsed thoroughly before they are eaten. Significant toxin levels are found only in the viscera, not in the meat of these small finfish. Previously, the warning implied that the entire body of those fish could be contaminated.

The warning regarding internal organs of commercially or recreationally caught crab taken from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties remains unchanged.

Dangerous levels of domoic acid have been detected in some of these species and are also likely to be present in the other species the CDPH said. Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a ‘bloom’ of a particular single-celled plant. The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict according to CDPH.

CDPH is continuing to collect a variety of molluscan bivalve shellfish, finfish and crab samples from the area to monitor the level of domoic acid in seafood in the region.

This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources. State law allows only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins said CDPH.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days.

In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have no reported illnesses associated with this event, according to CDPH.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free “Shellfish Information Line” at (800) 553-4133. For additional information visit CDPH’s Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page.www.cdph.ca.gov