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Pacific Ocean oysters sold in Canada recalled

Just a few weeks after Canada Day, our friends to the north are facing a recall of one of the Pacific coast’s delicacies. Three brands of oysters, harvested just last week, are being recalled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) concerns. It appears at this time that the oysters were sold only in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. 

 

The recalled products are identified as follows:

Pacific oysters, Mica's Petite Effingham Inlet (five-dozen packs)

Pacific oysters, Effingham Inlet Xs (five-dozen packs)

Oyster N/Shell Effingham XSM (five-dozen packs)

 

So what is Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning? Well it occurs due to the build up of natural toxins in oysters, clams, scallops, and other “bivalve shellfish”. Non-bivalve shellfish can also produce the toxins. When humans contract Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, symptoms could be as minor as “numbness of the lips, tongue, hands, and feet”, as well as difficulty swallowing. However, symptoms may be so severe as to cause “pain walking, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis, and death.”

The CFIA is conducting more inspections, will update the public if more information arises, and the recalled products are being removed from retailers. If you’ve purchased the recalled oysters, you’re encouraged to discard them or return them to the retailer for a refund.

To read the full report over at FoodSafetyNews.com, click here: https://bit.ly/2Ss6RDc