ONE of the most prestigious oyster-growing regions in the world is in turmoil after two people died of suspected poisoning and the authorities extended a ban on sales.
The victims, aged 77 and 61, died within hours of being admitted to hospital. Both had eaten oysters from the Bay of Arcachon. Oyster farmers there urged the State to speed up post-mortem tests on the victims yesterday in the hope that their produce will be cleared from suspicion.
Many of the 1,000 people who work in the oyster parks marched through the town this week before the deaths were announced, carrying mock coffins to protest at their plight.The national health authorities extended a sales ban in place since August 21 yesterday after alerting hospitals and doctors to the risk that people may have been poisoned by oysters contaminated with toxic algae.
“We are completely aghast,” Marc Druart, head of the Arcachon Oyster Growers’ Association, said. “We have to get out of this mindset which says that people got sick and died from eating oysters.”
Didier Houssin, the chief medical officer of the French health service, said that it was logical to suspect the oysters. The two victims died from apparent toxic shock, he added.
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Marine experts believe toxic algae levels have been increasing. Farmers blame “excessive” EU health tests for bans on selling oysters.