Quebec Shellfish Toxin Warning: Paralytic Poison Alert Issued

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has alerted residents in Quebec's North Shore of a paralytic biotoxin contamination in various shellfish. Bivalve mollusks like mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters from approved harvesting sectors were found to contain high levels of the dangerous substance.

These toxins are undetectable by appearance or smell, and cooking does not eliminate them. Symptoms can manifest rapidly, ranging from numbness and tingling to more severe neurological effects like drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty swallowing. In critical cases, paralysis can lead to fatal respiratory arrest.

The government has marked unauthorized harvesting zones in red on its shellfish map, primarily between Tadoussac and Forestville. Officials stress that consuming shellfish from approved and open areas is the most effective way to avoid poisoning. Trace amounts of the toxin might be found in lobster tomalley, but consuming it in large quantities is advised against.