MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Massive intoxication with molluscs in Chile

The massive intoxication of 125 people with contaminated molluscs from Puerto Montt has forced Chilean sanitary and food authorities to impose strict traceability and origin certification of all sea food transport and retailing.

Medical reports from Puerto Montt and Duao in the Seventh Region indicate that the intoxication was caused by the para haemolytic bacteria, originally detected in mussels collected in coastal areas of Puerto Montt, where several hundred people were also intoxicated a few weeks ago.

Chilean police and sanitary authorities have managed to trace the retailer of the contaminated produce who admitted having collected molluscs in areas strictly banned.

Given the massive outbreak Chilean Agriculture and Food Department officials have been entitled to demand origin certificates and traceability evidence of molluscs in fishing harbours, markets, retailers and even restaurants.

But the situation also has a negative impact for the mollusc industry that has seen demand and prices plunge.

In Puerto Montt area sales have dropped 80% and in Santiago the president of the Wholesale operators of the Fish market Manuel Matamal has demanded authorities to seal trucks when leaving southern Chile for the capital.

"We demand that only sanitary authorities be authorized to open the trucks on arriving in Santiago. This is the only guarantee against crooks and ensuring the cargo arrives untouched", said Mr. Matamala.

However Santiago restaurants reported no demand surprises, "business as usual".

Red tide in River Plate

In related news this Wednesday Uruguayan authorities banned the sale of bivalve molluscs and warned consumers about intoxication from the red tide. Apparently the highly toxic microscopic alga has spread all along the River Plate coast contaminating molluscs and making them non consumable for humans.