Skip navigation

Food Standards Agency

Tuesday 30 June 2009

Safer food better business banner

AZ-Directory What's New

Agency warns against eating certain fresh mussels with high toxin levels

Friday 8 September 2006

Ref: 2006/0663

The Food Standards Agency is today warning people not to eat mussels that may contain potentially harmful levels of toxins.

The affected products are fresh mussels sold in 1 kilo nets by Asda, Morrisons and Tesco�s supermarkets, between Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 September.

People are advised not to eat these mussels and to dispose of them or return them to the store for a full refund.

The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) has undertaken this recall, because their own testing found levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the level permitted by law.

PSP, which occurs very infrequently, is caused by naturally occurring algal blooms and can pose a health risk. Symptoms can include a tingling sensation of the mouth and tongue, and respiratory problems. In very rare cases PSP can be fatal.

SSMG is co-operating with the FSA. It has today issued a press release and is arranging for point of sale notices to be put up in stores.

Back to top

Notes for editors

1. PSP is caused by naturally occurring algal blooms that can extend over considerable areas.

Back to top

External links   The Food Standards Agency has no responsibility for the content of external websites

(External) Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group External website

Room 245 Aviation House,
125 Kingsway,
London WC2B 6NH
Telephone: 020 7276 8888
Out of hours duty pager: 07623 978344
Fax: 020 7276 8833
Email: press.mailbox@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Tell a Friend

Printer friendly

Contact us

Get alerts

Our Sites

Find out what our other sites have to offer

Change Text Only Settings

Graphic version of this page