A beautiful shellfish dish from Oberlin. The menu changes regularly, but you are always guaranteed great seafood and pasta.
San Diego, California – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a strong advisory against consuming sport-harvested bivalve shellfish—including mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters—gathered from San Diego County. The warning comes after testing detected dangerous levels of domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin that can cause severe illness or even death in humans.
Domoic acid, also known as amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is a potent neurotoxin produced by certain species of marine algae. The toxin accumulates in shellfish and, when consumed, can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild gastrointestinal distress to life-threatening neurological complications. Importantly, cooking or other food preparation methods do not destroy domoic acid, making it a persistent risk to public health.
According to CDPH, symptoms of ASP can manifest within 30 minutes to 24 hours after ingestion. Mild cases typically involve nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, and dizziness, which may subside within a few days. However, more severe cases can lead to difficulty breathing, disorientation, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, cardiovascular instability, and even permanent short-term memory loss or coma. In extreme cases, ASP can be fatal.
The advisory specifically applies to sport-harvested shellfish, which are collected recreationally rather than through commercial operations. CDPH has emphasized that commercially sold shellfish from state-certified harvesters and dealers remain safe to eat, as these products undergo routine, mandatory testing to ensure they are free from harmful levels of toxins.
Domoic acid poisoning has been a growing concern along California’s coast, with marine life also suffering from exposure to the toxin. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), domoic acid is one of the most significant threats to marine mammals. In recent weeks, SeaWorld San Diego has taken in numerous poisoned sea lions, pelicans, and dolphins, with some succumbing to the effects of the toxin. A similar outbreak in 2023 resulted in multiple animal deaths and widespread concern among marine biologists.
San Diego County is not the only area under a shellfish advisory. As of Thursday night, CDPH’s interactive health advisory map also flagged Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties for elevated toxin levels. Officials are urging the public to stay informed by checking the latest updates on shellfish advisories and quarantines.
For the most current information, the public can call CDPH’s Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or visit the agency’s Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page. With toxin levels posing a serious health risk, officials stress the importance of avoiding consumption of untested, sport-harvested shellfish in affected areas until further notice.
