To: Seafood Industry
On October 17, 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration released
industry and consumer advisories regarding safe sources of puffer fish
(also known as fugu, bok, blowfish, globefish, swellfish, balloonfish,
or sea squab). Many puffer fish contain deadly toxins that affect the
central nervous system, if consumed.
Puffer fish can be safely consumed when special care is taken to ensure
that the fish caught are free of toxins, or when they are processed to
eliminate the toxins.
The only safe sources for imported puffer fish are fish that have been
processed and prepared by specially trained and certified fish cutters
in the city of Shimonoseki, Japan.
Additionally, puffer fish caught in the mid-Atlantic coastal waters of
the United States, typically between Virginia and New York, are safe to
consume. Puffer fish from all other sources can either naturally contain
deadly toxins or become toxic because of environmental factors and
therefore are not considered safe.
Symptoms of ingesting the toxins found in puffer fish include tingling
around the lips and in the extremities followed by problems speaking,
loss of balance, muscle weakness and paralysis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In extreme cases, there may be respiratory paralysis that can lead to
death.
Consumers should ask about the origin of the fish before ordering or
buying. In cases where the source is uncertain or unknown, consumers
should not eat the puffer fish.
Establishments that serve or sell puffer fish, including restaurants and
fish markets, should obtain the product from a known safe source.
Source: (Press Release: FDA Provides Advice on Safe Sources of Puffer
Fish, October 17, 2007
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01727.html )
The industry advisory with further details is at:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ad2puff.html (also available in Spanish,
Japanese, Korean and Chinese).
The consumer advisory with further details is at:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/adpuffer.html (also available in Spanish).
Pamela Tom
===========================================
Pamela Tom, Seafood Extension Program Manager
Pacific Fisheries Technologists President
University of California
California Sea Grant
Mailing Address:
Pamela Tom
University of California
Food Science and Technology Dept.
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616 USA
Fax: 530/752-4759
Web: http://seafood.ucdavis.edu <http://seafood.ucdavis.edu/>
(SeafoodNIC)
E-mail: pdtom@ucdavis.edu
59th Pacific Fisheries Technologists Meeting
February 3-6, 2008 in San Francisco, CA -- Mark your calendar!
Web: http://seafood.ucdavis.edu/pft2008
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