As recently reported in Food Safety News, due to dangerous levels of domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin that were detected on Dungeness and Rock crabs caught in waters between the Oregon border and the southern Santa Barbara County line, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today advised public not to eat the said crabs.

Dungeness crab and Rock crab which have been caught along the California coastline have indicated persistently high amounts of domoic acid according to the latest findings.  The acid levels on the crabs' meat and the viscera, regularly referred to as crab butter were found to have surpassed the State's activity level which inflict danger to the consumers in the event that they are eaten.

CDPH tied up with other state agencies to go forward with its sampling efforts to conduct further investigations on the domoic acid levels in Dungeness and Rock crabs until levels become less and no longer exceed the State's action level of 30 ppm in the viscera and 20 ppm in the meat. The accumulation of Domoic acid in seafood is a natural occurrence that is associated to a "bloom" of a particular single-celled plant called Pseudo-nitzschia. The aspects that support the development of this plant are difficult to anticipate, and it is obscure when the levels found in crab will decrease. The health advisory will be lifted once the levels are no longer above satisfactory levels.

The indications of domoic acid poisoning can be recognized within 30 minutes to 24 hours after consuming the contaminated seafood. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness are the symptoms a patient may suffer in mild cases. These symptoms disappear within several days.

In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma and even death. There have been no reported illnesses connected with this incident.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH's toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information visit CDPH's Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page.