Warning and advice on mussels and possible biotoxin contamination

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today urged consumers to check their fridges for recalled mussels that may be contaminated with a naturally occurring marine biotoxin (paralytic shellfish toxin).

The presence of a paralytic shellfish toxin arising from a naturally-occurring algal bloom in Tasmania has forced the closure of Spring Bay Seafood’s shellfish farm and the business has initiated a recall of its mussels from the market.

The products recalled are branded Spring Bay live blue mussels (with use by dates of between 22 October 2012 - 10 November 2012) and Coles Cooked Tasmanian mussels (use by date 12 November 2012) have been supplied by Spring Bay Seafoods Tasmania and have been distributed to TAS, VIC, NSW, ACT, SA, QLD and some Asian countries.

The affected mussels were supplied in shell and supplied in the quantities of 500g and 1kg vacuumed packed bags (Spring bay seafood), 500g (Coles branded – the tomato and herb-based sauce and cream white wine sauce varieties) and 1kg and 2kg net bags (Spring bay seafood). They may also be supplied loose in shell/ per kg.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, said consumers should check the brand of mussels in their fridge and if the product has been recalled they should either dispose of any remaining product or return packets to the place of purchase for a full refund. If consumers have mussels in their fridge and are unsure of the source then they should consider disposing of the product.

No cases of illness linked to the recalled products have been reported.

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning generally appear 10 to 30 minutes after ingestion and may include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and tingling or burning mouth and extremities. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to the toxins affects.

If you think you or your family might have become ill from eating affected shellfish, you should consult your doctor.

More information

Questions and answers about the mussel recall

Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services media release

NSW Food Authority media release

Reproduced with permission of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 2 November 2012