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Food and Drug Branch (FDB)

 Contact

Main Telephone:

(800) 495-3232

 

Email:

FDBfood@cdph.ca.gov

 

Address (Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch
1500 Capitol Ave, MS 7602
Sacramento, CA 95814

ā€‹Address (Non-Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch
P.O. Box 997435, MS 7602
Sacramento, CA 95899

Domoic Acid

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin that is related to a ā€œbloomā€ of a particular single-celled diatom called Pseudo-nitzschia. The conditions that support the growth of Pseudo-nitzschia are impossible to predict. Crustaceans, fish and shellfish are capable of accumulating elevated levels of domoic acid without apparent ill effects on the animals. Elevated levels of domoic acid in crustaceans, fish and shellfish pose a significant risk to the public if these adulterated products are consumed. Domoic acid can be fatal to people if consumed in high doses. Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death.

 News and Updates

October 13, 2023

Cā€‹ā€‹DPH Lifts Warningfor Recreational Lobster Harvested from Parts of the Southern California Coastā€‹ā€‹

September 22, 2023

Consumers Warned not to Eat Lobsters Caught along Parts of the California Coastā€‹

ā€‹November 29, 2021

CDPH Lifts Warning about Recreationally Harvested Dungeness Crab from Parts of the California Coast

November 5, 2021

Consumers Warned not to Eat the Viscera of Dungeness Crab Caught along Parts of the California Coast

December 10, 2019

C.D.P.H. Lifts Warning about Dungeness Crab in Parts of Humboldt County

November 22, 2019

Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Parts of Marin County

November 1, 2019

Consumers Warned not to eat the Viscera of Dungeness Crab Caught along Parts of the California Coast

May 23, 2019

Rock Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Parts of Humboldt County

December 3, 2018

CDPH Lifts Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Near Bodega Bay and Russian River

November 19, 2018

CDPH Lifts Lobster Health Advisory in Ventura County

October 24, 2018 

CDPH Warns Recreational Anglers Not to Eat Dungeness Crab Caught north of Patrickā€™s Point

April 23, 2018

CDPH Lifts Rock Crab Health Advisory in Mendocino County

March 30, 2018

CDPH Lifts Rock Crab Health Advisory in Sonoma County

January 26, 2018

CDPH Lifts Lobster Health Advisory in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

January 16, 2018

CDPH Lifts Rock Crab Health Advisory in Portions of Sonoma County

January 03, 2018

December 29, 2017

December 22, 2017

November 3, 2017

October 24, 2017

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