Update on toxins in seafood

MONTEREY PENINSULA >> A warning issued earlier this month urging consumers not to eat recreationally caught mussels or clams in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties was expanded Tuesday to include the internal organs (viscera) of scallops.

California Department of Health officials say dangerous levels of domoic acid,­ a natural occurrence related to a “bloom” of a particular single-celled plant, ­ have been detected in various sea life.

The department also amended its previous warning for consumers to avoid eating recreationally and commercially harvested finfish, such as anchovy and sardines, which originally stated that the entire body of those fish could be contaminated. Updated information indicates that only the viscera of the fish is affected, and said anchovy and sardines are safe for consumption if de-headed, gutted and thoroughly rinsed.

The warning to avoid consuming the internal organs of commercially or recreationally caught crab taken from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties remains unchanged.

Originally posted in the Monterey Herald