Food Safety Focus (217th Issue, August 2024) – Article 4

Ciguatoxin and Food Poisoning

A suspected case of ciguatoxin food poisoning was reported in July 2024. Two persons exhibited symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), which included numbness over face, tongue and limbs, abdominal pain and diarrhoea six hours after consuming fish brought from Okinawa, Japan. They were treated at a hospital and did not require hospitalisation. 

CFP is an illness caused by eating certain seafood, primarily coral reef fish, which contains ciguatoxin. Ciguatoxin originates from certain dinoflagellates and mainly accumulates in the head, liver, intestines and roe of fish. The toxin is tasteless, odourless and cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing. 

To prevent CFP, the trade should avoid purchasing fish from unknown or suspicious sources and maintain strict record keeping. Consumers should be careful about the fish they catch themselves, especially from unfamiliar waters. One should consume less coral reef fish, especially large ones, and avoid eating the head, skin, viscera and roe. Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, peanuts, nuts or beans together with coral reef fish as they may aggravate CFP.