The FDA issued a warning on Monday to the dangers of eating the soft green substance (also called tomalley or lobster paste) found inside the lobster’s body cavity, citing concerns of toxin contamination. The toxins are due to an increase in algea levels in ocean waters ranging from New England to Canada. Ingestion of this poison can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Symptoms include tingling and numbness of the mouth, face or neck, muscle weakness, headache and nausea. In severe cases respiratory failure and death can occur. Cooking doesn’t eliminate or neutralize the toxin. The only safe way to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning is to not ingest the toxin. The good news is that most restaurants don’t serve the parts of the lobsters that are likely to be contaminated. According to the FDA it is still okay to eat lobster claws and tails. Full story.
Tags: lobster, paralysis, poisoning, seafood
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Every week its another story about poisonous food! A form of population control. Keep the masses scared and diverted. In the mean time the big shots obsessed with globalization continue their: 5-year, 10-year, 100-year tlan to get evrything for themselves and leave nothing for the rest.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I ALSO KNOW THAT TESTING PHARMACUTICALS ON ANIMALS AND CHILDREN WILL LEAD TO PARALYTIC SHOCK AND MAYBE DEATH.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
isis528 – yes there has been lots of news about food contamination as of late. I really hope your theory isn’t right! Thanks for leaving a comment.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
mellissa – thanks for leaving a comment. That is very sad. I certainly hope that the situation will improve until someday we will not need to subject test subjects to unecessary pain.