News Release


*For Immediate Release:*

May 9, 2025

 

*Consumers Advised Not to Eat Recreationally Harvested Mussels from California Coast *

Residents are advised of a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) mussel quarantine order effective May 1 through October 31, 2025. During the quarantine, all species of mussels gathered by recreational sport harvesters from California’s ocean shore should not be consumed by humans. The quarantine area extends from the Oregon border to the Mexican border, including all bays, inlets, and harbors in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continues to work with CDPH and collect shellfish for testing.

This quarantine is to protect and preserve public health under the California Health and Safety Code Section 131056. During the quarantine season, mussels may concentrate naturally occurring toxins that are highly poisonous to humans including paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) and domoic acid biotoxins in bivalve shellfish (mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops). Cooking does not destroy the toxins.

*This advisory does not apply to commercial shellfish from approved sources.*

State law prohibits the sale or offering for sale for human consumption of any bivalve (two-shelled) shellfish, except by a State-certified commercial shellfish harvester or dealer. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters or dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing and are not subject to this quarantine.

Mussels may be used or sold for use as bait when displayed and sold in containers labeled in boldfaced type letters at least one-half inch in height as follows: MUSSELS FOR BAIT ONLY, UNFIT FOR HUMAN FOOD.

*_Symptoms _*__

Early symptoms of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms are typically followed by a loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur.

*_Clams and Scallops_*__

People consuming clams or scallops are warned to remove and discard the digestive organs or viscera and any other dark parts. Only the white meat of clams and scallops should be prepared for human consumption. Also, bivalve shellfish should not be collected for food from any area subject to sewage or chemical contamination.  

If you or a family member experiences gastrointestinal or neurological symptoms after eating mussels taken for human consumption by recreational sport harvesters from California’s ocean shore, please submit a Foodborne Illness Report [ [link removed] ] and seek medical care. For additional information call the Shellfish Hotline at 1-800-553-4133 or online at the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Quarantines and Health Advisories [ [link removed] ].


facebook [ [link removed] ]twitter [ [link removed] ]instagram [ [link removed] ]youtube [ [link removed] ]

"*The Los Angeles County Departmen**t of Public Health* "

"The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well -being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises of more than 5,000 employees and has an annual budget of $1.3 billion."

 

"Los Angeles County Department of Public Health works to protect health, 
prevent disease, and promote health and well-being."

 

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]

 

Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]







________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by County of Los Angeles [ [link removed] ].



________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud to [email protected] on behalf of: County of Los Angeles, California · 500 W. Temple St. · Los Angeles 90012  

body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;} p, li, h1, h2, h3 { overflow-wrap: normal; word-wrap: normal; word-break: keep-all; -moz-hyphens: none; -ms-hyphens: none; -webkit-hyphens: none; hyphens: none; mso-hyphenate: none; }