Clams and cockles from the Arcachon basin prohibited for consumption
Goodbye spaghetti vongole and clams soup, at least for now. Clams and cockles from the Arcachon basin will be temporarily withdrawn from sale from this Tuesday due to a health risk if consumed.
The Gironde prefecture specifies in a press release that the analyzes carried out by the State with the support of Ifremer (French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea) highlight contamination with Escherichia coli bacteria.
Fishing and marketing for “human consumption” are prohibited, as is recreational fishing. Shellfish caught since last Tuesday will be withdrawn from sale. For the moment, they are not subject to a “product recall” on the site Conso.gouv reminder. Oysters from the Arcachon basin are not affected by the bacteria but nothing is specified for mussels.
Escherichia coli bacteria can cause gastroenteritis marked by abdominal pain and diarrhea, and sometimes fever, within 3 days following consumption.
In May, fishing and marketing of clams had already been banned in the Arcachon basin, due to a lipophilic toxin detected on mussels coming from the basin.
