How can I avoid food poisoning from molluscs?

Although there is no reliable way to completely avoid food poisoning, there are steps to make consumption relatively safe. Food poisoning from molluscs is most common in consumption of molluscs from water, which can be contaminated by red tides or which have recently been contaminated. The commercial industry of molluscs is regulated and the operations are regularly checked, allowing commercially prepared molluscs safely to eat. Most food poisoning occurs when amateurs collect and eat contaminated molluscs. It is also risky to eat raw or insufficiently cooked molluscs. Molluscs should always be obtained from reputable sources. Never eat any molluscs unless they are sure of the source. Any seafood should be prepared with washed hands and clean dishes and in a clean workspace. Cooking molluscs thoroughly kills many harmful microorganisms. It is best to avoid food of molluscs during the warm summer months, especially if they were red attachmentIvy serious. During the red tide, the phytoplankton population becomes so numerous that their bodies cause water to appear reddish. Natural toxins are produced, which can be used by molluscs. Since molluscs are filter feeders, their bodies can accumulate toxins and cause diseases to people or animals who eat them.

food poisoning from molluscs can also occur when molluscs are contaminated by hepatitis or norwalk viruses. In addition, there are four recognized types of molluscal poisoning from natural toxin accumulation. The poisoning of amnesium and neurotoxic molluscal poisoning can cause disease, but there are no known deaths. The outbreak of the 1987 amnesi molluscs in Eastern Canada had a mortality of 3 percent. The poisoning of paralytic molluscs is the deadliest, with a mortality of 1 to 12 percent.

Some populations are exposed to an increased risk of food poisoning from molluscs.These include children and seniors, especially if they have a compromised immune system. Most cases of mollusc poisoning will decide on themselves, but medical care should be sought if the food poisoning is suspicious from molluscs. Symptoms of some types of poisoning may occur within minutes after consumption of molluscs and include armor or burning of lips and tongue, nausea and abdominal pain. Other types of molluscal poisoning, such as hepatitis A, may take several weeks for symptoms to occur.

Although the occurrence of red inflows continues to increase, it is important to realize that most molluscs are absolutely safe. Since commercially acquired molluscs are subject to strict practices, the public continues to enjoy molluscs without excessive end. In general, the nutritional benefits of molluscs tend to predominate the risk of poisoning, especially if the molluscs are obtained commercially and thoroughly.