Have you checked what you consumed for lunch today? Fortunately, it is expected that everyone is keeping well. Yet, in an unfortunate event in Malaysia, a quotidian activity of eating fish cost the life of a woman, and her husband remained in a critical stage. This incident in Malaysia has taken the netizens by storm and calls upon being aware of our way of consuming food.
Pufferfish, a Japanese delicacy has certain toxins like tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin which cannot be destroyed even by cooking or freezing. It can also prove to be fatal if not cleaned properly. The octogenarian couple was not marked with a fortunate fate in the end. The husband is presently in a stage of coma wherein the doctor believes that he might not be like the previous one before ascribing to his old age.
The man reportedly bought the fish from a local seller whom the former had been a daily customer. Thus, it is quite natural for him to trust his source. The daughter of the deceased man was quoted saying that he would surely not buy any harmful commodity knowingly. The entire incident happened unknowingly which had further tragic outcomes.
Puffer Fish is a dangerous delicacy
After lunch, the woman started shivering and faced severe chest pain and breathing difficulties. When taken to the hospital she was declared dead. The husband is considerably in critical condition. As per Newsweek reports, doctors have stated the cause of death as “food poisoning with neurological manifestation resulting in respiratory failure with cardiac dysrhythmia possibly due to ciguatera toxin or tetrodotoxin ingestion,’ from the food.
With a fast-paced life and mundane life schedules, most are hardly aware or conscious of what they are eating. Although What I Eat in a Day vlogs surfacing online have driven the netizens by storm, yet have also eaten our time from real life to social media. Many people are not being mindful of what they are consuming resulting in several physical ailments. In several other places, adulterated food has also created havoc among people. Food owners and those regulating food ought to be adequately hygienic in how they serve and the quality of food.
Four days thereafter the occurrence of the incident the Health Director General of Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, confirmed that further sale of puffer fish is strictly prohibited. Thus, the government has significant reason to be accountable for the trade and regulation of such food items that could be detrimental to human consumption.Â
The sale of fish was controlled under the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority Act 1972, and section 13 of the Food Act 1983 which bars the sale of food that is poisonous, harmful, or injurious to health.
As per media reports, certain figures have surely revealed the toxicity of consuming puffer fish. 58 incidents of poisoning and 18 deaths have been reported from 1985-2024 related to puffer fish. It is further acted upon that such stuff ought to be consumed only by specialized Japanese chefs who possess adequate knowledge about the removal of harmful chemicals from this fish.
However, people ought to be further mindful of their food. Food as a propelling fuel for our sustenance and survival ought not to fall as a reason for our demise. Healthy food choices ought to be on the go for holistic and healthy living.
