Toxins detected in Hawke Bay shellfish

Neighbourly.co.nz

A shellfish biotoxin alert has been published by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for Hawke Bay.

Routine testing found shellfish samples collected from Pania Reef contained Paralytic Shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in excess of the safe limit of 0.8mg/kg set by MPI.

The warning covers the area between the Mohaka River mouth to the top of Cape Kidnappers.

In a statement, MPI said that they continue to monitor toxin levels, with stricter monitoring programmes for commercially harvested shellfish.

"Any changes will be communicated accordingly... There are no commercial shellfish farms in the affected region."

Here's what you need to know:
- The public are advised not to eat Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin), and all other bivalve shellfish.
- Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking.
- Symptoms of poisoning typically appear 10 minutes to three hours after ingestion and can include numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet), difficulty swallowing or breathing, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea paralysis and respiratory failure, and in severe cases, death.

Members of the public who have become ill after ingesting the affected shellfish should get in touch with Healthline (0800 61 11 16) or seek medical attention immediately. Keep any shellfish leftover for testing.

Find out more about the alert by heading to the Ministry for Primary Industries website.