Tag: Paralytic shellfish poisoning

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), caused by saxitoxin, is one of the most common and severe forms of seafood-related food poisoning. This potent neurotoxin is produced by certain types of marine algae, which are then consumed by filter-feeding marine life, concentrating the toxin in their tissues. The primary concern for human health is the consumption of seafood contaminated with saxitoxin.

According to the CDC, most cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) occur in temperate waters off North America, often linked to contaminated bivalve shellfish like mussels. Understanding what happens when you eat too much mussels is crucial, as this can expose you to harmful marine toxins and other contaminants.

While many people associate shellfish danger with food poisoning, some species possess a much more direct and lethal threat. The most poisonous shellfish is not a creature you eat, but one that can sting you, with some cone snail species carrying venom potent enough to kill a human.

According to research published on ScienceDirect, saxitoxin—the neurotoxin responsible for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)—is one of the most potent natural neurotoxins known and can be lethal to humans at very low doses. While shellfish themselves are not inherently poisonous, this makes understanding what is the most toxic shellfish a critical matter of public health during harmful algal blooms.