Poverty Bay Geoducks given all clear, safe to eat

SEATTLE -- New tests on geoducks collected from Poverty Bay find they are safe to eat, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Officials said tests were done after China announced a ban on shellfish exports from Washington and most of the west coast of the U.S., partly because of geoducks that tested above inorganic arsenic standards for China.

Washington health officials did their own test on geoducks harvested from Poverty Bay and found that the edible parts were far below China's arsenic standards.

One test result was above the standard but it was for the skin, the inedible part of the geoduck.

Washington's test results have been given to state partners and to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Seafood Inspection Program, which has relayed them to officials in China.

More information on the Department of Health's arsenic tests can be found on the agency's website.