Written question asked by Martin Caton (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 March 2002. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 4 March 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the highly toxic form of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning affecting cockles, which does not show the normally typical presence of okadaic acid, was first discovered by the FSA; at what locations; and what research has been commissioned into its causes.

Answer: Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the highly toxic form of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning affecting cockles, which does not show the normally typical presence of okadaic acid, was first discovered by the FSA; at what locations; and what research has been commissioned into its causes. [37097] Yvette Cooper: The Food Standards Agency became aware of the unusual aspects of the diarrhetic shellfish poisoning tests in cockles in October 2001. This has been seen in samples taken from the Burry Inlet, Anglesey, the Thames Estuary, the Wash and Strangford Lough. Initial investigations into the cause of the toxicity have been undertaken as part of the agency's on-going programmes of research and surveillance on shellfish toxins. The results of these investigations have been used to produce a structured plan of research on this toxicity, which will begin at the start of March.

Secondary information