Scientists are helping researchers in Cuba find dangerous toxins in marine algae that can lead to outbreaks from contaminated seafood.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been building capacity for monitoring ciguatera using nuclear and isotopic techniques to identify seafood biotoxins.
Ciguatoxins are a class of algal toxins. They
Continue Reading IAEA helps Cuba with Ciguatoxin problem
Fifteen people recently fell sick in Hong Kong after eating vanilla-flavored ice cream in restaurants.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said the incident involved three restaurants in the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong hotel: Grand Café, Grissini, and One Harbour Road.
There are nine males
Continue Reading 15 sick in Salmonella ice cream outbreak
A survey has revealed a gap in the knowledge of consumers in Germany when it comes to natural plant toxins.
A poll by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) found just under half of the respondents (47 percent) were aware of plant toxic substances.
The BfR Consumer Monitor
Continue Reading German survey finds low awareness of natural toxin risks
A global food standards-setting body has advanced work on various issues, including lead levels, Ciguatera, and tropane alkaloids.
The latest Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food session was held in Panama City in April.
New maximum levels (MLs) were agreed for lead in various spices, including dried aril, dried seeds
Continue Reading Codex meeting covers heavy metal levels and Ciguatera
According to a study, an outbreak of ciguatera poisoning from contaminated fish affected 19 people on a ship in Australia.
The food poisoning outbreak was reported to the Central Queensland Public Health Unit in December 2021.
A bulk carrier sailing from Higashiharima, Japan, to Gladstone, Australia, reported an incident of
Continue Reading 19 sailors sick in Ciguatera outbreak
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has unearthed a novel seafood toxin responsible for ciguatera poisoning.
The toxin, known as ciguatoxin, is found in large fish such as barracuda, moray eel, snapper and grouper, and can cause tingling and numbness in fingers and toes, nausea, abdominal pain, and even
Continue Reading NRC discovers novel seafood toxin that causes ciguatera poisoning
The United States is to lead work on a document covering the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning.
The plan was given the go-ahead at a recent Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods meeting.
An electronic working group, chaired by the U.S. and co-chaired by France, Spain, and Panama, will
Continue Reading U.S. heads up Codex ciguatera efforts
Almost 30 cases of ciguatera fish poisoning have been recorded so far this year in Vanuatu.
The 27 patients range in age from 6 to 67 years old with the majority aged 35 and older. More men than women have been affected. No deaths have been recorded, said the country’s
Continue Reading Vanuatu reports ciguatera cases; puffer fish kills 1 in Malaysia
Salmonella was responsible for more than half of all foodborne outbreaks in Australia in 2017, according to recently released figures.
A total of 179 foodborne outbreaks were reported in 2017. They affected 2,130 people resulting in at least 290 hospital admissions and five deaths.
Eggs continued to be a
Continue Reading Salmonella dominates Australian outbreaks
A project looking at the surveillance and control of ciguatera poisoning in Europe has been given a second edition.
A launch meeting for EuroCigua II was attended this past week by representatives of 11 organizations involved in food safety and public health from five European countries.
Partners include the Spanish
Continue Reading Ciguatera in Europe project granted follow-up
