Screening shellfish for fungal toxins vital, scientists say

Scientists have warned that harvested shellfish should be screened for toxins to avoid long-term health risks, according to a report published in the Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) journal. In an area with contamination by strains of Penicillium fungus, bivalve molluscs (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, etc) will contain toxins at much higher levels than those found in the surrounding environment. Professor Yves François Pouchus, from the University of Nantes, France, led the research: “A high level of toxins in the shellfish tells us that we have to be careful not to underestimate the impact of certain Penicillium strains in the