The government warned the public to avoid consuming certain types of seafood due to toxic content that can be lethal to humans.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday, March 5, reminded Filipinos to stop consuming the following fish and crabs:
- Floral Egg Crab
- Devil Crab
- Two types of Puffer Fish (butete): Lagocephalus lagocephalus and Lagocephalus lunaris
- Horny Goby Fish (biya)
The agency said the seafood mentioned may contain tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which are harmful to the skin, body and internal organs.
BFAR said that the effects of the poison can be felt within five to 30 minutes after consumption.
“Ang pagkain ng mga ito ay maaaring maging sanhi ng pagkamatay,” it added.
It also listed the symptoms of poisoning, which are:
- Numbness of the lips and tongue
- Sweating and excessive salivation
- Muscle twitching
- Loss of body coordination
- Paralysis of parts of the body or the entire body
- Bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nails (Cyanosis)
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Headache
- Chest tightness
- Decrease in blood pressure (Hypotension)
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
The BFAR said individuals who have eaten, or are suspected to have eaten, such seafood should be brought to the nearest hospital.
Last month, a content creator died after consuming a devil crab in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
The vlogger reportedly fell gravely ill the following day and suffered convulsions as she was being taken to a health center.
RELATED: Food vlogger dies after ‘eating highly toxic devil crab’ in Puerto Princesa
Devil crabs, also known as toxic reef crabs, are a species of crab that live on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region.
Their shells and flesh contain the powerful neurotoxins tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which can remain potent even after hours of cooking.
The crabs are typically dark reddish-brown or cream-colored, with striking patterns of red or brown patches. — with reports from ViralPress
