PUTRAJAYA – Breeders in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka are still not allowed to market mussels as per previous instructions.
Director-General of the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Datuk Adnan Hussain, said it was following analysis reports from two laboratories that found the biotoxin content was still high and unsafe to eat.
“The DOF together with the Negeri Sembilan Fishermen’s Association are still actively conducting monitoring every week starting April 2, 2024 and verification is carried out for three days starting from April 26 to 28,” he said through a press conference, here on Tuesday.
According to him, the DOF expects the situation to continue due to the hot weather and wind that bring dangerous algae from coastal areas to livestock areas.
“We advise fishermen and breeders not to sell mussels because they are dangerous to consumers,” he explained.
Adnan also advises the public not to eat mussels or shells whose status is unknown.
“Don’t eat, don’t collect wild shells because they are feared to be unsafe,” he said.
When asked when the biotoxin readings would return to a safe period, Adnan said that it usually takes a month.
“But this time, the biotoxin content produced by alexandrium algae is still high,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Negeri Sembilan Health Department announced that there were eight cases of food poisoning related to the consumption of mussels and one poisoning victim received treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU), Port Dickson Hospital.
Following that, the DOF confirmed that the mussels in Port Dickson waters are contaminated and unsafe to eat after analysis.
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