Shetland shellfish sites close after high toxin levels found
All shellfish harvesting sites in Shetland have closed and mussels from the islands withdrawn from sale after unusually high levels of toxins were detected.
The Food Standards Agency said the naturally-occurring toxins can cause acute food poisoning. The move came after about 70 people in south-east England reported symptoms of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. The cases have been linked to the eating of mussels from Shetland. It was after the harvest of these mussels that the FSA recorded the high levels of toxins during its weekly monitoring programme.
According to the FSA, the toxins are produced by marine phytoplankton and levels are typically higher in summer. A total of 11 harvesting areas in waters to the north and west of the islands have been shut by Shetland Islands Council and businesses operating in the remaining nine areas have decided to voluntarily stop commercial harvesting.
Source: BBC News
The Food Standards Agency said the naturally-occurring toxins can cause acute food poisoning. The move came after about 70 people in south-east England reported symptoms of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. The cases have been linked to the eating of mussels from Shetland. It was after the harvest of these mussels that the FSA recorded the high levels of toxins during its weekly monitoring programme.
According to the FSA, the toxins are produced by marine phytoplankton and levels are typically higher in summer. A total of 11 harvesting areas in waters to the north and west of the islands have been shut by Shetland Islands Council and businesses operating in the remaining nine areas have decided to voluntarily stop commercial harvesting.
Source: BBC News
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