Following a Memorial Day weekend outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in Oregon, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people to avoid eating certain shellfish recently harvested from some areas of the Oregon and Washington coasts because they may be contaminated with toxins that cause PSP. Those toxins cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing. The FDA’s warning specifies oysters and bay clams harvested from growing areas in Netarts Bay and Tillamook Bay in Oregon, and all shellfish species from growing areas in Willapa Bay, WA. The FDA’s warning follows local bans on harvesting mussels, bay clams and razor clams along the Oregon coastline, with similar bans in Washington. The FDA is also warning all restaurants and other food retailers not to serve the potentially toxic shellfish, which have been commercially distributed to multiple states. Most people with PSP will begin to develop symptoms within 30 minutes of consuming contaminated seafood. Symptoms can range from tingling of the lips, mouth, and tongue to respiratory paralysis and may include numbness of arms and legs, “pins and needles” sensation, weakness, loss of muscle coordination, floating feeling, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting and headache. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after eating shellfish should seek medical care immediately. More than 31 people in Oregon recently became ill with PSP after eating shellfish from Oregon’s waters. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests for shellfish toxins and will post updated information on their website.
