Health ministry: Export toxic shellfish out of Sabah and face the consequence

Those who try to export toxic shellfish from Sabah to Peninsula or Sarawak will face dire consequences.

This is the strict warning issued by the Health Ministry today, to those who were trying to take advantage of the situation.

“We will take strict action on the people who are trying to bring in the shellfish into the Peninsula and Sarawak.

“All types of food has its safety level which is monitored by the food safety division under the ministry.

“If the food is toxic, the ministry can prohibit its sale,” Health minister Datuk S. Subramaniam told Astro AWANI.

Subramaniam said the ministry is continuously monitoring the situation.

“We have a team to conduct inspection and to ensure the rakyat do not consume food that can jeopardise their health. This team is assisted by the local councils and the Environment Department,” he said.

Subramaniam also advised the locals to not consume the toxic shellfish.

“For the time being, those in the area affected are advised not to eat shellfish until further notice local councils on its safety level,” he added.

Yesterday, the Sabah Fisheries Department warned the public to refrain from eating shellfish due to the high toxin level caused by the red tide phenomenon.

Sabah Fisheries Department director Rayner Stuel Galid had said the level collected from the samples was around 700 Mouse Unit (MU), where the lowest limit considered as dangerous for humans is 400 MU.

The red tide phenomenon traced at Sabah's west coast waters since late last year, is expected to continue for another month.

Earlier this year, three people in Sepanggar and Inanam died from red tide poisoning after eating cockles collected from Sepanggar Bay waters.

Symptoms of shellfish poisoning due to red tide include tingling of the lips and tongue, depending on the severity of the poisoning.