New Zealand – Shellfish Biotoxin Alert

North Island warnings

Reason for alert	Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) Check the symptoms of PSP
Date warning issued	Media release: 17 November 2023 (further extended) Media release: 10 November 2023 (extended) Media release: 12 October 2023
Affected area	The affected area now extends from East Cape to Blackhead Point, just north of Porangahau
Shellfish affected	Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish. Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin. Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
Symptoms	Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may 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.
Other information	Paralytic shellfish toxins have been detected in shellfish at levels over the safe limit of 0.8mg/kg set by New Zealand Food Safety. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.