Jaunted

Puffer Fish Disguised As Salmon Blamed For Deaths

8/23/2007 at 9:14 AM
Tags: Travel Safety, Food, Puffer Fish (all tags)

Vendors in Bangkok have been selling puffer fish meat disguised as salmon, causing the deaths of more than 15 people over the past three years, according to local doctors.

Puffer fish was banned in 2002, however local markets and restaurants in Bangkok and elsewhere continue to sell the illegal meat. Here is what another local doctor had to say about the issue:

Some sellers dye the meat of puffer fish and make it look like salmon which is very dangerous.

In Japan many people dine on the fish as a form of adventure eating, but obviously, if the fish is dyed and sold as salmon, those folks have no idea what they are actually ingesting.

However, there are a contingent of people in Thailand that know exactly what they are eating. Recently, in the province of Khon Kaen a man and his family fell ill after eating puffer caught from a local pond. Furthermore, plenty of open-air barbeque restaurants off puffer fish on the down low. The Public Health Ministry of Thailand prohibits the production, selling, export, and import of puffer fish and offenders could face two years in prison and a 20,000 baht fine.

Obviously all good things to keep in mind on your next trip to Bangkok.

Related Stories:
· Bangkok Travel [Jaunted]
· Bangkok Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Deadly puffer fish sold as salmon [IHT]

[Photo: notsogoodphotography]