Shellfish biotoxin warning issued for parts of Marlborough Sounds
New Zealand Food Safety has issued a warning against collecting or eating shellfish from the Marlborough Sounds region due to high levels of paralytic shellfish toxins. The warning follows the detection of an algal bloom that produces dangerous toxins which are not removed by cooking.
Why it matters
Public health warnings regarding food safety are critical to preventing severe illness or death from contaminated seafood consumption.
People are being warned not to collect or consume shellfish from parts of Marlborough Sounds as they may contain toxins.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has issued a warning asking people not to gather from the Tennyson Inlet and Fitzroy Bay areas.
NZFS acting deputy director-general Mike Inglis said routine tests on mussels from Canoe Bay had come back with levels of levels of paralytic shellfish toxin over the safe limit.
"Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick. Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat's eyes) and Cook's turban.
"It's important to note that cooking does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten."
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