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Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Eating puffer fish a gamble: BFAR
By Aurea A. Gerundio
EATING puffer fish, a variety of fish locally known as butete, is a gamble of one's life, according to Fish Inspection and Quarantine Services Chief Raul Millana of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11.
Millana said despite knowing the fish is poisonous, a lot of people still eat puffer fish.
"Maybe because of poverty they'll just eat puffer fish," Millana said in the dialect. The fish needs to be thoroughly cleaned to make it edible. Selling the fish in the market is not allowed, he said.
Last week, a man died, while five of his children, three nephews and one neighbor were hospitalized because of food poisoning after eating puffer fish.
Felix Masangya Sr., 44, of Toril, Davao City, died, while hospitalized were Jesus, 14; Junard, 6; Raymond, 16; Rey, 12; Gwendolyn, 11; Christine Joy, 5; Felix Jr., 8; and Jonathan Masangya, 2. The family's neighbor was identified as Guillermo Sarona, 30.
Puffer fish is known as the source of the sometimes deadly Japanese fugu delicacy, a dish that can be prepared only by trained and licensed chefs. A slip of the knife that accidentally releases toxin from the fish liver, kidney or ovaries can poison the food.
Diners feel unwell, dizzy and their mouth tingles. Soon, symptoms grow more serious, described as the culinary version of Russian roulette. Diners drop to the ground, convulsing and gasping for air. Death soon follows. A person can die from poisoning within eight hours.
"Those poisoned surely ate puffer fish that wasn't properly cleaned. It's just like the gallbladder. When it is pierced while cleaning all other edible parts become bitter," Millana said.
(December 23, 2003 issue)
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