Sewage spills blamed as E coli forces Cornish shellfish sites to close

Rock oysters. Eleven shellfish production zones in south Cornwall have been closed after very high levels of E coli were found in their oysters and mussels. Photograph: Levon Biss/The Observer

“Very high” levels of E coli found in oysters and mussels have led to the closure of 11 shellfish production zones in Cornwall.

In an email seen by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations, the Cornwall Port Health Authority (CPHA) told food business operators they “must not collect the affected animals from this area by any method. It is unsuitable for their production for health reasons and has been temporarily closed.”