Call to stop consuming puffer fish maws containing tetrodotoxin

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 1) called on the public to stop consuming two kinds of prepackaged puffer fish maw as they contained tetrodotoxin. The trade should also stop selling or using the affected products.

Product details are as follows:

(1) Product name: Puffer fish maw (English name not available)
Place of origin: Vietnam
Distributor: Max Choice Corporation Limited
Net weight: Half catty per pack
Best before date: July 2, 2017

(2) Product name: Puffer fish maw (English name not available)
Place of origin: Indian Ocean
Distributor: Max Choice Corporation Limited
Net weight: Half catty per pack
Best before date: February 15, 2017

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Following up on a food related enquiry, the CFS collected the two aforesaid puffer fish maw samples from the retail outlets of the distributor concerned in Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long for testing. The test results showed that both samples contained tetrodotoxin."

Information provided by the distributor showed that the affected products were purchased from another supplier Lam Kee Seafood Products Company Limited. The affected products were also sold by retail by the supplier concerned. The distributor and supplier has stopped sale of and removed from shelves the affected products of all batches, and initiated a recall of the products according to the instructions of the CFS.

The CFS appealed to members of the public who had purchased and still possessed the affected products not to consume them. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, consumers should seek medical advice as early as possible. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the hotlines of Max Choice Corporation Limited at 3976 3888 or Lam Kee Seafood Products Company Limited at 2851 4020 during office hours.

The spokesman said puffer fish might contain a potent and deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin. The toxin is heat-stable and is likely to remain in fish tissue after the food preparation steps (e.g. cooking and drying), therefore eating puffer fish raw, cooked or dried, or its products might lead to food poisoning or even death. The consumption of tetrodotoxin results primarily in neurological and gastrointestinal signs. All humans are susceptible to tetrodotoxin poisoning. There are currently no known antidotes or antitoxins to tetrodotoxin and this toxicosis may be avoided by not consuming puffer fish or other species containing tetrodotoxin.

The spokesman reminded the trade that according to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and continue to trace the distribution and source of the affected food items. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted. Investigation is still ongoing.

Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2016