Cooked puffer fish can kill, warn health officials

The Public Health Ministry has issued a warning against eating puffer fish after the death of a man in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

The man and his family fell ill after eating puffer fish caught from a pond. The man convulsed and developed breathing difficulties, while his relatives began vomiting.

He was taken to hospital on Monday night, but died the next day. His family survived.

Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul said all species of puffer fish, whether salt water or fresh, contained the poison tetrodotoxin, and cooking could not remove it.

Puffer fish was a delicacy in Japan, Mr. Anutin said, but could only be prepared by licensed, specially-trained chefs.

Other people should not attempt to cook and eat the toxic fish by themselves, he said. Dr. Pakdi Phothisiri, director-general of the Health Services Department, said the Food and Drug Administration had already investigated the Khon Kaen fatality.

Under Public Health Ministry regulations, the production, selling, export, and import of puffer fish and puffer fish products was banned. Offenders could face up to two years in prison and a 20,000 baht fine.

Dr. Pakdi also appealed to open-air barbecue restaurants - popular in Bangkok and provinces -- not to offer puffer fish for the safety of consumers.