FS46-03.10 October 2011 Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Summary

Bivalve molluscs are one of the only foods normally delivered to the consumer alive. This, and the fact that bivalve molluscs can selectively retain contaminants that are harmful to human health, means controls are in place to mitigate against this. To ensure best practice guidelines are followed Seafish has produced a series of industry guidance notes for fishers and shellfish farmers. This fact sheet on Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) covers: what it is, the symptoms, algal toxins, the legislative framework, controls in place, how the samples are tested, what harvesters should be doing and sources of further information. Revised October 2011.

Author

• Mandy Pyke,
• Karen Green

Publication date

01 October 2011