The Ministry for Primary Industries today extended the current public health warning against collecting shellfish in the Hawke’s Bay region. The affected area now extends from the Mohaka River to the southern end of Pōrangahau beach.
Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.
Other public health warnings remain in place for Port Levy on Banks Peninsula and Nydia Bay in the Pelorus Sound.
Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.
Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.
FoodWorld 