The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a renewed warning today about red tide poisoning, and advised lobster lovers not to eat lobster tomalley.

"Mainers and those who are enjoying their visits to our state can follow some simple steps when they enjoy shellfish to assure their safety,'' said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Director of the Maine CDC.

The tips:

•Purchase shellfish from a certified shellfish dealer. Their operations undergo rigorous public health screening and auditing.

•If harvesting for personal use, make sure the shellfish beds are not closed for red tide. Check the Department of Marine Resources' website for the latest information on closed areas:

•Do not consume mussels or clams from open waters. Clam and mussels from open waters are likely to have filtered much more algae-containing water than those from flats or beds, and therefore will generally have much higher concentrations of toxin.

•When eating lobster, do not consume the tomalley. Tomalley is a soft, green substance found in the body cavity of the lobster. It functions as the liver.

"Much like the liver of other animals, the tomalley serves as a natural filter for contaminants that are in the water,'' Mills said. "That is one reason why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised consumers for many years not to eat tomalley. However, lobster meat is safe to eat."