ABSTRACT
Living organisms naturally produce chemicals called as natural toxins. These toxins are not harmful to the organisms themselves, but they may be toxic to other creatures, including humans, when consumed (JECFA 2001). Some plants naturally produce their toxic compounds. As for example, under certain conditions, in ocean, microscopic algae (tiny plants) can produce compounds that are toxic to humans but not to shellsh who eat this algae. When humans eat shellsh that contain these toxins, sickness can easily occur. To avoid this, active monitoring program is conducted to ensure that shellsh, which are being sold, do not contain the “shellsh toxins.” Some agencies like Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Environment Canada are involved in joint administration of this active monitoring program (JECFA 2001, Leon et al. 2016).
