Mangaluru scientist asked to draft national advisory on seafood poisoning

MANGALURU: More than a hundred individuals, including workers at a fish exporting company, took ill on Saturday after consuming fish heads supplied by a firm in Ullal. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked Mangaluru-based scientist, Dr Iddya Karunasagar, to draft a national food advisory for fish poisoning, especiallyCiguatera.

FSSAI consultant and member of the scientific committee, Dr Iddya said that he had brought the Ullal incident to the attention of the committee members on Monday, in the course of a meeting held in New Delhi on food safety. Dr Iddya said that he would not be able to confirm if the Ullal incident was the first instance of such fish food poisoning in the country. "But, it is definitely the first mass outbreak, which has affected hundreds of people," he said.

Pointing out that there could have been unrecorded sporadic incidents in the past, he added, "They may not have come to light since the affected population would have been less. There were reports from Mumbai about a similar incident; we thought it could be fish poisoning. We could not get any data on it. But, the Mangaluru outbreak, which has affected so many people, is a first in the country."

Before they are exported, the head and viscera are removed from the fishes, while the heads find their way into the local markets, Dr Iddya reasoned. "People were affected by the toxin in the head and viscera. The exporters may not be aware that certain parts of the fish were poisonous," he added.

Dr Iddya said that the director of the Export Inspection Council in New Delhi had made a mention of a couple of rapid alerts from the European Union regarding the issue. The national advisory, Dr Iddya said, would be ready in a fortnight. "It will be sent to the food safety committee members. It will be put up on FSSAI's website, once it has been approved," he said.

Meanwhile, the Udupi Department of Fisheries too has sought Dr Iddya to spread awareness of fishes that could have toxins among fishermen, besides speaking on the precautionary measures that need to be observed while consuming them.

EU raised a red flag in August

Through its Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the European Union had thrice issued alerts in August, warning of the risks detected in fishes exported from India.

The alerts, issued on August 14, 19 and 22, pertained to three consignments, and were concerned with Ciguatera poisoning and Ciguatoxins.