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Pufferfish are dangerous to eat because they contain a deadly poison called tetrodotoxin. (Photo: Ancient Origin)
JAKARTA – The poisoning case of a family including a mother and two children due to eating puffer fish went viral on social media. This incident occurred in Haria, Saparua District, Central Maluku Regency (Malteng) which caused the three of them to die.
Saparua Police Chief, AKP. Yopi Walalayo stated that, based on her husband's statement, the three victims consumed puffer fish or in local language what is known as roe fish. It is said that the fish is served in the form of fried fish.
AKP Yopi further said that after consuming it, the victims then complained of feeling weak. The mother of two children also asked her husband to take her to the hospital because she felt her mouth and throat hurt.
According to AKP Walalayo, at around 10.00 WIT, the three victims received medical treatment at the Saparua District Hospital, but their lives could not be saved. AKP Walalayo stated that at 12.00 WIT the victims were declared dead.
So is it true that pufferfish are poisonous? To answer this, see the following explanation, as compiled from various sources on Thursday (7/3/2024).
For your information, puffer fish are dangerous to eat because they contain a deadly poison called tetrodotoxin (TTX), which comes from their food. TTX accumulates in their liver, gonads, skin, and intestines.
TTX binds to the victim's nerve cells, blocking signals and causing paralysis and often death by suffocation. Pufferfish don't die from the poison because a genetic mutation stops TTX locking onto their nerves.
This resistance has evolved repeatedly in various pufferfish species. Other animals, including snakes and toads, have developed TTX resistance with the exact same genetic mutation.
Immunity to TTX gives pufferfish various advantages: predators learn to avoid it, so pufferfish can expand their diet and safely eat TTX-contaminated species.
Considering that pufferfish have deadly poison, processing of pufferfish can only be done by trained people. Even chefs who serve puffer fish must have a special certificate for safe serving.
(msf)