Freshly caught shellfish are off the Christmas menu in the Eastern Bay of Plenty this year

New Zealand Food Safety says tests have shown shellfish from Opape near Opotiki to the East Cape have nearly double the safe toxin limit.

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, pupu, Cook's turban and kina are included in the warning - but paua, crab and crayfish can still be eaten, as long as the gut's been completely removed prior to cooking.