Avoiding the shellfish blues

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 20

Avoiding the shellfish blues

Most New Zealanders like shellfish. But eating these delicacies can have some very unpleasant results if they are collected from polluted places, . or wrongly prepared. You can/suffer anything from a mild stomach upset to much more serious infectious diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis. The Department of Health is issuing a pamphlet to help New Zealanders to get. it right. “Shellfish

— Gourmet’s Delight.” will be available from district health offices from about mid-March. “Diseases can be caused by eating shellfish taken from water polluted with human sewage or shellfish contaminated during processing and storage,” says the pamphlet. “Waters likely to be polluted are those near cities and towns, particularly those that discharge their sewage directly into the

sea close to the shoreline. Enclosed harbours are more likely to be polluted than open beaches and coasts.” Other pointers for shellfish fans: Don’t collect or keep shellfish in clear plastic bags. Sacking or similar material will protect shellfish from the sun and keep them wet, cool, and alive. Consult your local

authority health inspector or the local office of the Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries for advice on where to collect. If in any doubt about cleanliness or freshness, cooking is the best way to prepare many shellfish. The pamphlet also suggests where to buy shellfish, and how to store them. It emphasises the importance of hygiene in shelling and cooking.