Oman food safety centre warns against consuming certain fish

MUSCAT: The Food Safety and Quality Centre (FSQC) has warned the public against buying, trading or consuming certain types of pufferfish, which can contain a potent toxin capable of causing paralysis, breathing difficulties and death.
In a warning issued on social media, the centre said some pufferfish species contain tetrodotoxin, a highly potent poison that can cause severe and potentially fatal symptoms if consumed.

The centre urged consumers to learn to identify the species shown in its warning and avoid purchasing, selling, trading or eating them.

It stressed that the toxin cannot be eliminated through normal food preparation methods, warning that cooking or freezing the fish does not make them safe for consumption.

Tetrodotoxin can affect the nervous system and, in severe cases, lead to paralysis and respiratory failure, making accidental consumption potentially life-threatening.

The FSQC urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing fish and to avoid any pufferfish species identified in its warning.

The centre also advised against trading or handling the fish for consumption, stressing that the presence of the toxin means they should not be considered safe even after cooking or freezing.