PD mussels still contaminated, not safe to eat, says Negri exco man

SEREMBAN: Mussels found in waters off Port Dickson are still not safe for consumption as there are still traces of dangerous biotoxins in them, says Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.

The Negri Sembilan Agriculture, Food Security and Cost of Living committee chairman said based on the latest lab analysis, the mussels were contaminated by the prorocentrum, alexandrium and pseudonitzschia algae species.

“The latest findings reveal that the mussels are still contaminated.

“As such, the rule prohibiting the harvesting of mussels and other bivalves in the PD area is still in force,” he said in a statement.

On April 4, the Fisheries Department had issued a ban on the harvesting and selling of mussels in Port Dickson after lab tests showed the presence of the biotoxins.

The authorities only came to know about the contamination after several people had to be hospitalised after consuming the mussels.

It then advised the people to refrain from eating mussels as well as lokan and lala harvested from waters off the resort town for at least three weeks till they were certified safe to eat.

The people were, however, free to eat fish, squid crabs and other marine produce.

The department said preliminary findings revealed that the algae population had increased drastically due to the unusually hot weather.

On April 2, eight cases of food poisoning, then believed to have been caused by eating mussels, were reported in the resort town.

Two people had to be admitted into the intensive care unit of the district hospital after they experienced paralysis.

Jalaluddin said the Fisheries Department will continue to carry out analyses of mussels found in Port Dickson waters and the next result would be known on April 26.

“We also hope the public would report to the authorities if they see a change in the colour of seawater,” he added.

A change in the colour of the sea can indicate the presence of dangerous algae.