VANCOUVER - Shellfish lovers in B.C. are being warned not to eat several types of oysters and mussels that could contain a potentially deadly toxin.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says two varieties of oysters and several types of mussels could be contaminated by paralytic shellfish toxins.
All the suspect shellfish was harvested Oct. 3 or 4, in waters on the Sunshine Coast, just east of Lund, about 200 kilometres north of Vancouver.
The oysters and mussels have been distributed to various B.C. retailers and institutional clients by Albion Fisheries, Aquatec Seafoods and Taylor Shellfish.
No cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning have been reported.
Symptoms can hit within half an hour of eating tainted shellfish and, in severe cases, tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, hands and feet can progress to difficulty walking, muscle paralysis and death within 12 hours.
