Sixty illnesses reported in B.C. in relation to contaminated mussels

by Yolande Cole on Aug 29, 2011 at 11:48 am
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Health authorities are investigating 60 reports of illness in B.C. in relation to the consumption of mussels, after a contamination alert was issued earlier this month about toxin-containing shellfish.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued an alert on August 6, 2011, warning the public not to consume certain mussels harvested by Sea Island Farms between July 19 and August 2, 2011.

CFIA cautioned that the mussels may have contained the Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) biotoxin.

The foodborne illness can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and chills.

The mussels were distributed under the brand names Saltspring Island Mussels, Albion Fisheries Ltd, Pacific Rim Shellfish Corp., Albion and B & C Food in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The harvester and distributors voluntarily recalled the affected product.

The 60 reported illnesses are being investigated by B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and Health Canada.

Comments (3) Add New Comment
island girl
Aug 30, 2011 at 8:22 am
As a life time resident of Vancouver Island I cannot believe that shellfish are being harvested in the summer!! Clams, mussels, oysters are not safe in warm months. If the month has a r in it you don't harvest bivalves it is common knowledge How come the commercial farms are not aware of this? Stupid stupid risk!
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Island girl, what?
Aug 30, 2011 at 5:16 pm
"Clams, mussels, oysters are not safe in warm months. If the month has a r in it you don't harvest bivalves"

Let's see: May, June, July, August = summer. Don't see any Rs there!
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blahblah
Aug 30, 2011 at 8:26 pm
January has a r in it.
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