Food Safety

[GWR]

A tonne of toxic puffer fish seized

(Agencies) - Police said Tuesday they have arrested a man as he was planning to sell more than a tonne of illegal puffer fish, which contain a potent toxin that can kill unsuspecting dinners.

Yongyuth Ngaenvisai, 25, was arrested Monday as he drove a pickup truck containing 1,200 kilogrammes of the fish, also known as globefish or blowfish, to sell at a wholesale market in Samut Songkhram province southwest of Bangkok.

Police Lt Visut Vanijbut said the fish were to be sold to restaurants and made into fish balls, Visut said.

"It's particularly dangerous since people would not know they were eating globefish, because it would be made into fish balls or ground into noodle soup," he said.

The sale of the fish has been banned in Thailand since 2002, after six Thais who ate it died. If convicted, Yongyuth faces six months to two years in prison for illegal possession and distribution of puffer fish, Visut said.

The ovaries, liver and intestines of the puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a poison so potent that the US Food and Drug Administration says it can "produce rapid and violent death."

The fish is called fugu in Japan, where it is consumed by thrill-seeking Japanese gourmets for whom the risk of poisoning adds piquancy.

Every year, there are a reports of people dying or falling sick in Asia from eating puffer fish. Eating the fish can cause paralysis, vomiting, heart failure and death.

Link may expire:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=120258

[GWR]

Blowfish passed off as salmon
Published on August 23, 2007

Diners were warned yesterday to check carefully what they eat, as some BBQ restaurants were reportedly dyeing deadly puffer fish meat to look like salmon.

"It's all over the country and has become the ingredient for food that normally is made with snakehead fish and snapper. Some supermarkets also sell it, claiming it's quality fish meat," said Dr Narin Hiransuthikul, head of preventive medicine at Chulalongkorn University.

He urged people to avoid fish fillets that were white, thick, skinless and sold cheaply for Bt30-Bt70 per kilo. Fugu toxin cannot be destroyed by heat.

From 2004 to the present, 115 people had fallen ill from eating puffer fish and 15 of them had died.

The most popular dishes using puffer fish as an ingredient were fried fish eggs, grilled/boiled/fried fish and spicy fish soup, he said.

Within 10 minutes to four hours, depending on how much was consumed, patients would feel numbness in the face, mouth and fingertips, get nauseous and vomit.

If treated in time, patients could be saved and recover quickly, he added.

Chuleeporn Aramnet
The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/23/national/national_30046158.php

Last month's narrowly-averted Great Samut Songkhram Blowfish Disaster:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=15893&postcount=6

[GWR]

The authorities seem rather blase about this whole issue. Are the blowfish in question the same as those in Japan that have to be prepared and cooked only by qualified & licensed fish-filleters and cooks? It is widely-known that Thai trawler-owners tend to treat their crews as expendable. If most of the deaths are among fishermen, then why is it that there are some restaurant fatalities even in Japan's heavily controlled blowfish industry?:


FFC urges puffer fish meat to be labelled

The Foundation For Consumers (FFC) urged on Thursday the puffer fish meat to be labelled, in order to keep consumers informed and trace back to the supplier when a problem emerged.

While Fishery Department said such case of blowfish being passed off as salmon took place at Bangkok's Talad Thai in 2002.

FFC Director Saree Aongsomwang said that normally fishermen would know what type of blowfish was edible or toxic but some might become greedy and mixed both types to sell at markets.

She said fish meat and seafood selling had never been labelled to identify suppliers, thus when there was a problem, it was hard to reach the one that caused such problem. Thus they should be labelled like other goods for consumers to choose and buy and for tracing back to the problematic supplier if a problem occurred, she said urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Mae Klong Fishery Coop deputy president Chinchai Sathirayakorn said the Chulongkorn University researcher's revelation of puffer fish toxic was rather one-sided, although admitted that some people died from consuming the fish. He said those died cooked and ate the puffer fish as a whole thus they took in sufficient toxic to kill and that most of the deaths were fishermen, not the cases of those eating blowfish fillets.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/23/national/national_30046269.php

The report (below) from The Irrawaddy has a few interesting extra details:

Deadly Puffer Fish Sold as Salmon Kills 15, Sickens 115

Unscrupulous vendors in Thailand have been selling meat of the deadly puffer fish disguised as salmon, causing the deaths of more than 15 people over the past three years, a doctor said Thursday. Although banned since 2002, puffer fish continues to be sold in large quantities at local markets and restaurants, said Narin Hiransuthikul of Bangkok's Chulalonkorn University Hospital. "Some sellers dye the meat of puffer fish and make it look like salmon which is very dangerous," Narin said. Narin said over the past three years more than 15 people have died and about 115 were hospitalized from eating the fish. The ovaries, liver and intestines of the puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a poison so potent that the US Food and Drug Administration says it can "produce rapid and violent death." The fish is called fugu in Japan, where it is consumed by thrill-seeking Japanese gourmets for whom the risk of poisoning adds piquancy. Every year, there are reports of people dying or falling sick in Asia from eating puffer fish. Eating the fish can cause paralysis, vomiting, heart failure and death. (AP)
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?cat_id=1#230807_2

[Wisarut]

The veterant fisheman (now an author of advanture novels about life on the high sea) said that those young fishermen nowaday know NOTTHING about how to properly partake blowfish to save themselves from being KILLED by blowfish poison ....

[jpatokal]

Something about this whole story just seems fishy to me. Pufferfish are small, difficult to breed and very expensive, while salmon are big, easily and commonly bred and very cheap, so dyeing and selling pufferfish as salmon is kind of like turning goose liver into hot dogs. The later stories seem to indicate that there was a single incident in 2002 of puffer being accidentally sold as something else and all deaths after that have been fishermen trying their luck, which sounds much more sensible; this is what accounts for 99% of fugu deaths in Japan as well.

[Wisarut]

Something about this whole story just seems fishy to me. Pufferfish are small, difficult to breed and very expensive, while salmon are big, easily and commonly bred and very cheap, so dyeing and selling pufferfish as salmon is kind of like turning goose liver into hot dogs.

The later stories seem to indicate that there was a single incident in 2002 of puffer being accidentally sold as something else and all deaths after that have been fishermen trying their luck, which sounds much more sensible; this is what accounts for 99% of fugu deaths in Japan as well.

Khun JPtokal,

For the case of Thai fishermen, Salmon are expensive sicne it has to be imported from USA, Japan, or ewven Australia-Newzealand while Pufferfish are a lot cheaper since they can be caught alogn the coast ...

[GWR]

29 August 2007
Crime Suppression Division seize 5000 kg of puffer fish

The Crime Suppression Division has seized over 5,000 kilograms of puffer fish destined to be sold to local restaurants in Samut Songkhram province.

The Commander of the Economic and Technological Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wisut Wanichabuth (วิสุทธิ์ วานิชบุตร), conducted a press conference to report on the arrest of Mr. Sakchai Sridaoruang (ศักดิ์ชัย ศรีดาวเรือง), and Mrs. Nattaya Jaiyen (นาตยา ใจเย็น), on charges of attempting to sell 5,000 kilograms of Puffer Fish, worth over 300,000 baht, in the muang district of Samut Songkhram province. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wisut revealed that only two milligrams of puffer fish meat can result in the death of consumers if ingested, due to the high toxicity of the species.

The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, of Chulalongkorn University, reports 130 patients who suffered from puffer fish poisoning this year, with 15 confirmed fatalities. The 2 suspects alleged that they were not attempting to sell the puffer fish but were merely transporting them to a animal food processing factory in the province. The 2 suspects will be charged with violating the Ministry of Public Health's order on dangerous foods, and face 6 months to 2 years of imprisonment, and a fine of 5,000-20,000 baht.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter01

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255008290019

[GWR]

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255008290019

Medical Sciences Department produces test kit to detect puffer-fish toxin


Researchers from the Medical Sciences Department have developed a test kit that can detect the presence of the deadly poison tetrodotoxin in puffer-fish meat within five minutes. The kit will be available for use early next year, said Deputy Public Health Minister Vallop Thaineua Monday.

The symptoms caused by tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin found in puffer fish, typically develop within 2030 minutes of consumption. The poison's effects start with paraesthesia of the lips and tongue, muscle weakness and respiratory difficulty, Vallop said.

In severe cases that are not treated in time, death can follow within six hours. The highest concentrations of the poison are found in the fish's liver and ovaries, followed by the skin and meat, he said.

The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/08/national/national_30051778.php

[GWR]

Just one of several puffer fish stories in this thread!


http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255008290019

Puffer fish alert after food poisoning outbreak in Rayong

Rayong - Three villagers were taken to hospital with serious food poisoning Tuesday after eating papaya salad mixed with fermented puffer fish.

Local public health officials searched for the source of the toxic food, fearing more people could fall ill.

The three patients - suffering nausea, diarrhoea, weak muscles, and numb fingers - were admitted to Ban Khai Hospital after eating papaya salad (somtum) mixed with fermented puffer fish two days ago.

As the patients were recovering in hospital, Rayong public health expert Dr Krit Palasuth told a meeting at Ban Khai Hospital the freshwater fermented puffer fish had been ground up, which spread toxins all over the papaya salad. This caused the villagers to suffer tetrodotoxin poisoning.

The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30062326

[GWR]

Friday, January 18, 2008
Two tonnes of smuggled beef goes up in flames

PHUKET CITY: Nearly two tonnes of smuggled beef went up in smoke at the Phuket Incinerator in Saphan Hin on Sunday. The meat, worth an estimated 153,600 baht, was from cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease, said Phuket Vice-Govenor Smith Palawatvichai.

Most smuggled meat was from diseased animals and was of low quality, he added.
According to a press release issued by the Department of Livestock Development, the meat originated in India and was packaged under the brand names Allana, EatCo and ALM.

Sakchai Sriboonsue, director general of the Livestock Development Department, said the meat came in 96 packs weighing 20 kilograms each.

The entire shipment was smuggled into Phuket through the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint. It was discovered on December 20 in an outdoor freezer on Soi Siangtai, off Thepkrasattri Rd in Phuket City, he said.

Somboon Intharat, the owner of the storage unit, was found to have brought the meat into Thailand without a permit or correct health certification, and without following Customs regulations, he said.

Somboon, who will be fined an as-yet undisclosed amount, has been charged under sections 29 and 39 of the Department of Livestock Development Animal Epidemics Act of 1956, which aims to stop the spread of epidemic diseases in livestock.

The meat was incinerated under Section 39 (4) of that act, he said.

This was the sixth time that smuggled meat had been incinerated in Phuket since November 2007.

“We have a network of 70 animal-quarantine checkpoints across the country. We are strict about enforcing the law against people who import meat without permission from the Department of Livestock Development.

“We are concerned about the safety and quality of food. It is very important for tourism, business and our people,” said K. Sakchai.

Between October 2006 and September 2007, 650 arrests were made nationwide for animal and meat smuggling.

During the same period, Customs seized more than one million ducks, 25,000 chickens and almost 2,000 goats, as well as more than 40,000kg of poultry meat. The total value of animals and meat seized was estimated at 92.3 million baht, added K. Sakchai.

Vice-Gov Smith said, “If we let this kind of meat into our country, it will bring epidemics and damage our health. Thai Customs and Thailand in general will lose income as this meat is very cheap. We will cooperate with the Department of Livestock Development to investigate any leads.”

People with information about illegal meat importation are urged to contact the Department of Livestock Development by calling 026-534444, ext 4371.

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6226

Foot-and-mouth disease infecting humans

Humans can be infected with foot-and-mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but this is extremely rare. Some cases were caused by laboratory accidents. Because the virus that causes FMD is sensitive to stomach acid, it cannot spread to humans via consumption of infected meat, except in the mouth before the meat is swallowed. In the UK, the last confirmed human case occurred in 1966, and only a few other cases have been recorded in countries of continental Europe, Africa, and South America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot-and-mouth_disease

But as the Phuket report points out, it does nothing to help the tourist industry. And perhaps even more cogent is the thought of what might might happen if somebody discarded this meat after realizing it was illegal. Grazing animals are not completely contained by stockades here. Thai farmers have enough problems with this disease themselves without importing it.

[GWR]

Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=120258

Toxic snack

By Rarinthorn Petcharoen
Nan - More than 140 people were rushed to local hospitals with food poisoning after eating fish balls apparently made from the puffer fish in Ban Luang district of this northern province on Friday.

The villagers ate the fish balls in a soup offered at the funeral of Kham Sudsom on Friday evening at a house belonging to Daoloy Mongkol in tambon Ban Fah.

After the funeral, guests started vomiting, their tongues felt numb, they had weak hands and legs and were suffering chest pains. They also experienced shortness of breath.

They were taken to Ban Luang district hospital which later referred some of the more seriously-ill patients to Nan provincial hospital.

The district hospital has a limited capacity to care for patients and soon many more people who were sick after eating the fish balls turned up for treatment, it was reported.

Pisit Sriprasert, of the Nan provincial health office, said all the patients admitted to local hospitals were guests at the funeral.

Ms Daoloy said she also ate the fish balls and came down with food poisoning.

Kamlai Konsoong, who helped prepare the food at the funeral, said the fish balls were bought at the Ban Pong fresh market in Chiang Muan district of neighbouring Phayao.

The vendor told her the fish balls were made from the popular pla krai fresh water fish and were bought from a supplier in Bangkok.

She said she bought 800 fish balls, samples of which have been sent to the provincial public health office for testing.

Dr Pisit said the patients' symptoms suggested they had consumed puffer fish meat, which contains the potentially deadly poison tetrodotoxin, which attacks nerve cells.

The toxin cannot be dissolved by heat. Puffer fish meat is sometimes used illegally to produce fish balls because it is cheaper than most other fish meat.

Niwatchai Sujitchan, the deputy director of Nan provincial hospital, said seven of those hospitalised were in serious condition and required aids to help them breathe.

He said they had eaten more than two milligrammes of the toxin, an amount which can be instantly fatal.

They are being kept under observation for the next 48 hours.


Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=127192

[GWR]

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Puffer fish mauls Cambodian boy's groin

June 17, 2008
AAP

A Cambodian teenager was recovering in hospital after an angry puffer fish attacked him in the groin, local media reported.

The Khmer-language Koh Santepheap daily ran a picture of the unnamed 13-year-old in a hospital bed with heavy strapping around his testicles, saying he was lucky to be alive.

The paper quoted the boy's father, Sok Ly, as saying the fish had become enraged when it was accidentally trapped in the boy's net and, when it was freed, had attacked the boy's scrotum.

Cambodian legend has it that the bite of the fish is even more dangerous than its poisonous spines, especially for boys, and Cambodian boys are traditionally advised not to swim in waters where the fish is common.

The victim, from Prek Pneuv commune outside Phnom Penh, was expected to recover from Monday's attack, the paper said, but the extent of the damage had yet to be determined.

Posted by Socheata
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/06/puffer-fish-mauls-cambodian-boys-groin.html

In Voodoo, puffer's poison must be ingested by the victim for the black magic of creating "zombies," most likely because of the pseudocomatose effect.

Pufferfish, called pakpao, are also consumed in Thailand, usually by mistake, at times these fish are eaten because they are cheaper to buy, and there is little awareness or monitoring of the situation. Patients are regularly hospitalized or die as there are no specific preparations to remove the toxin before eating.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pufferfish

I'm also told by a local informant that 'Pakpao' attacks on the human male genitals are a known local fact.

[thai2thai]

Local Songkhla girl played a significant role helping solve salmonella saintpaul outbreak in the USA.

Article: Health investigators use props, patience to track salmonella
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-29-salmonella-investigation_N.htm

Kanyin Liane Ong (nickname Nana) is an Epidemiologist for CDC (Center for Disease Control) based in Atlanta, Georgia.
She is a Thai national from Ban Nana – Khao Mee Kiat, Sadao, Songkhla.