Problem
The Mussel Beach Brothers Food Truck had a reputation in New York for some of the best mussel specials in the Big Apple. One of the brothers, who lived in Long Island, would occasionally harvest oysters on his own at one of several locations along Long Island Sound that only he knew. He had been doing this since the brothers started their business and always brought his catch to the food truck to be served as an additional special of the day.During one day late in September, several New York City hospitals began admitting patients complaining of dizziness, diarrhea, and vomiting. A few elderly patients also experienced numbness and tingling in their legs. Upon investigation, the New York health department determined that the patients suffered from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and the Mussel Beach Brothers Food Truck was the source of the toxic poisoning.
a) Why did this happen?
b) How could this incident have been avoided?