The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Dried puffer fish

Product name: Loose-packed dried puffer fish.

When following up on a suspected food poisoning case, test results of the dried puffer fish samples provided by the patient concerned were confirmed to contain tetrodotoxin.

The dried puffer fish were purchased from a temporary stall at Shop C, G/F, 177-181 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon, on August 16. Follow-up investigation found that the temporary stall concerned operated on August 16 and 17 at the above-mentioned address.

Test results of the dried puffer fish samples were confirmed to contain tetrodotoxin.

Tetrodotoxin is heat-stable and is likely to remain in fish tissue after the food preparation steps (e.g. cooking and drying). Therefore, eating fish products containing tetrodotoxin 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.

Investigation is ongoing.

The CFS will take appropriate follow-up actions.

Trade is reminded 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 appealed to members of the public who had purchased the affected product from the above-mentioned stall on those two days and still possess it not to consume it. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, consumers should seek medical advice as early as possible.

The CFS press release