MFDS "Do Not Consume Clams Illegally Harvested from Beaches"... Beware of Shellfish Toxins

Caution for Consumption from March to June in Spring... Detection Period Advances Due to Climate Change

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Commissioner Kim Gang-rip) announced on the 14th that due to the earlier detection period of shellfish toxins caused by recent climate change, special caution should be taken from March to June regarding the harvesting, distribution, and consumption of shellfish such as clams, oysters, mussels, and tunicates like sea squirts and sea cucumbers.

Shellfish toxins are toxins accumulated in shellfish that feed on toxic plankton living in the sea, and if ingested by humans, they pose a risk of causing poisoning symptoms.

They begin to occur mainly along the southern coast from March every year and gradually spread to the eastern and western coasts. The toxin levels peak when seawater temperatures are between 15 and 17°C and naturally disappear around mid-June when the temperature rises above 18°C.

There are various types of shellfish toxins depending on poisoning symptoms, including paralytic, diarrhetic, and amnesic shellfish toxins, with paralytic shellfish toxins being the most common in Korea. If symptoms such as nerve paralysis or digestive abnormalities appear after consuming shellfish, immediate medical attention should be sought at a nearby hospital or public health center.

The government urged caution to prevent individuals from arbitrarily harvesting and consuming shellfish such as clams, oysters, and mussels at seaside areas during spring when shellfish toxins mainly occur due to rising seawater temperatures, as these toxins are not destroyed by refrigeration, freezing, heating, or cooking.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.