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Canadian geoduck clams detected with paralytic shellfish poisoningtoxin

  • 2014.12.24
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 24) urged the public not to consume certain batches of geoduck clams imported from Canada as they were again detected with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin. The trade should also stop selling the product concerned.

"The CFS has taken proactive follow-up actions upon notification from the Canadian authorities last Friday on the detection of PSP toxin in live Canadian geoduck clams. Apart from banning the import of geoduck clams from the same harvest area in the Province of British Columbia, the CFS has enhanced surveillance at import level of geoduck clams from other parts of Canada as well. Test results showed that 15 samples were detected with PSP toxin at levels exceeding 80 micrograms per 100 grammes," a CFS spokesman said.

Eight importers concerned are as follows:

1. Asia Victor International Logistics Company Limited
2. Benison Seafood
3. Ho Wing Seafood Trading Company Limited
4. Homefine International Seafood Trading Company
5. Huafa Seafood Trading Company
6. LongFine Seafood Trading Company Limited
7. Samuel's Seafood Trading Company Limited
8. Shui Lung Seafood Trading Company

     The spokesman said that the CFS would request the importers concerned to stop the sale of the food concerned and trace the distribution of the food item in question. Furthermore, the CFS has informed the Canadian authorities of the test results and extended the import ban on geoduck clams to the whole Province of British Columbia.

PSP toxin can cause symptoms such as numbness of mouth and limbs and gastrointestinal discomfort. In severe cases, paralysis with respiratory arrest and even death may occur. This natural toxin is sometimes found in bi-valve shellfish. It is heat-stable and cannot be destroyed through cooking.

The spokesman urged consumers who have bought the affected product to immediately stop consumption. If they have bought similar food item recently, but were not sure about its place of origin, they should also refrain from eating it for prudence sake and check the product's origin with relevant retailers. The trade should also stop selling the product concerned. Members of the public should seek medical advice if they feel sick after eating the product concerned. So far, the CFS has not received any related PSP food poisoning notification and has informed the accident and emergency departments of local hospitals to take note of relevant symptoms.

Some precautionary measures to avoid shellfish poisoning are as follows:

* Remove the viscera before cooking, avoid consuming the cooking sauce and eat a small amount of shellfish in one meal;
* Children, patients and the elderly may be susceptible to poisoning and should be cautious in consuming shellfish;
* When symptoms occur after consuming shellfish, seek medical advice immediately.

The CFS will alert the trade of the incident, continue to follow up on the case closely and take appropriate actions, including enhancing surveillance of shellfish imported from Canada.