CDPH Warns the Public Not to Eat Northern Anchovies Harvested from Central California Waters
SN26-019
What You Need to Know: CDPH warns the public not to eat northern anchovies harvested from Central California waters due to dangerous levels of domoic acid.
Sacramento – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) advises the public not to consume northern anchovies harvested from waters between:
Dangerous levels of domoic acid, also referred to as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), have been detected in northern anchovies collected from Central California Coastal waters. Because domoic acid can accumulate in digestive organs and other tissues, contaminated fish may pose a health risk to consumers. Cooking does not destroy the toxin. The public is advised to not consume northern anchovies harvested from the affected area until further notice.
Please note that this advisory does not apply to northern anchovies directly off-loaded or caught recreationally for use as bait (i.e. not intended for human or pet consumption).
Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, and dizziness. 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, coma, or death.
CDPH continues to coordinate its efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the fishing community to collect and test fish samples from the impacted areas until domoic acid levels have dissipated. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this event.
Test results are updated as laboratory results become available and can be viewed on the CDPH Domoic Acid webpage. Please visit CDPH’s Domoic Acid FAQ for more information. To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free “Shellfish Information Line” at (800) 553-4133.