On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:03:58 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

> Pete wrote on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:56:16 -0800 (PST):
>
> PL> Can't find anything online...... We live at Cliftonville,
> PL> just to the east of Margate, Kent. On our beach walks I
> PL> have seen quite a few mussels. Does anybody know how to
> PL> tell if they are ok to eat? There is a sewage outfall not
> PL> too far away but I believe that it is treated now. The
> PL> beach is relatively clean. Is it a case that if the mussels
> PL> taste fine they really are?
>
>Food poisoning from contaminated mussels is unfortunately common
>and I must assume they tasted well. Unless you live in a largish
>sparsely populated area, I would advise buying the mussels. I
>have seen mussels being farmed near National beaches in
>Washington State and I suppose wild mussels there would be safe
>tho' I've never tried them.
>
>James Silverton
>Potomac, Maryland
>
I would not eat shellfish (or finned fish) if they are harvested near
a sewage site, even if the sewage was treated.

Otherwise *don't * eat shellfish during "red tide" times.

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