THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1984
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IT'S DANGEROUS TO EAT PUFFER FISH
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THE PUBLIC ARE TODAY WARNED AGAINST EATING PUFFER FISH WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATAL CASES OF FOOD POISONING.
THE WARNING WAS ISSUED FOLLOWING A FATAL INCIDENT IN WHICH A WOMAN DIED AFTER EATING THIS TYPE OF FISH LAST MONTH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS, SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE STILL RISKING THE IR LIVES BY INDULGING IN THE DANGEROUS HABIT OF EATING SUCH FISH.
+ THE POISON IN THE FISH CONCENTRATES IN THE INTERNAL ORGANS AND DIFFUSES INTO THE FLESH, HE EXPLAINED.
+THE POISON IS MORE CONCENTRATED IN SUMMER AND THE MORE COLOURFUL THE SPECIES ARE, THE MORE POISONOUS THE FISH IS LIKELY TO BE.
+AS THE TOXIN LEVEL PRESENT IN PUFFER FISH VARIES FROM FISH TO FISH AND FROM SEASON TO SEASON, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE OF SAFETY FOR ANY PERSON WHO EATS SUCH FISH.+
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THAT ANYONE FEELING UNWELL AFTER EATING FISH OR FISH-MEAT SHOULD CONSULT A DOCTOR AT ONCE.
MEANWHILE, CIRCULAR LETTERS HAVE ALSO BEEN SENT TO FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ADVISING THEM NOT TO OFFER THE FISH AS A DISH.
UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, HE WARNED, ANY PERSON WHO SELLS PUFFER FISH FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IS LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, PUFFER FISH MIGHT BE IMPORTED
AND SOLD SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
*
THAT THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY AN OFFICIAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE COMPETENT HEALTH AUTHORITY
OF THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, CERTIFYING THAT THE FISH DO NOT CONTAIN ANY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.
* THAT THEY ARE FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
THAT THEY ARE PERMITTED TO BE SOLD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
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