The California Department of Public Health warns people not to eat shellfish “sport-harvested” from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties

SANTA CRUZ, MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a press release Thursday warning people not to eat "recreationally harvested" mussels, clams or whole scallops from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

The County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency stated that there were dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in the mussels harvested from those two counties. The Health Services Agency also said that the PSP toxins occur naturally in the mussels but can cause illness or even death in humans. According to the Health Services Agency, cooking the shellfish does not destroy the toxins.

This warning comes in addition to an annual mussel quarantine that applies to all species of mussels harvested for people to eat along the California coastline (including bays and estuaries) in effect through Oct. 31, 2024, according to the Health Services Agency.

The warning does not apply to those clams, mussels, scallops or oysters sold commercially by approved sources, according to the CDPH. California law allows only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters and dealers to sell the shellfish and they are tested for toxins frequently.

The CDPH says that PSP toxins can affect the central nervous system and produces a tingling sensation 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," according to the Health Services Agency. "In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur."

For people wanting to learn more about the toxic shellfish advisory, please scan the QR code, visit cdph.ca.gov or call 800.553.4133.