| Just in time for the travel season, here is all you | | | | Most cases of shellfish poisoning result from eating |
| need to know to avoid an unpleasant surprise from | | | | bivalve mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters, and |
| that seaside feast on your next vacation. | | | | scallops) that have been exposed to algal blooms or |
| A frequently overlooked source of food poisoning is | | | | "red tides." Fortunately, most cases have symptoms |
| toxins in seafood. Shellfish poisoning, fish poisoning, | | | | no worse than diarrhea, although amnesia, memory |
| ciguatera, red tide illness, and sombroid are special | | | | loss, and paralysis are not unknown. There is no |
| hazards to travelers because the toxins typically do | | | | medical treatment for shellfish poisoning. |
| not affect the taste, smell, or appearance of the fish | | | | Scombroid poisoning occurs after eating fish that has |
| or shellfish. Moreover, cooking, drying, freezing, or | | | | not been adequately chilled after capture. Tuna and |
| smoking does not affect them. | | | | related species contain high concentrations of the |
| Ciguatera poisoning occurs in coral reef fish that have | | | | amino acid histamine. If the flesh is allowed to stand |
| consumed toxic algae. The highest concentrations of | | | | at warm temperatures, histidine is chemically |
| ciguatera toxins are found in the gut, head, liver, and | | | | converted to histamine, although the fish tastes, |
| roe, usually disdained by Western travelers. Since the | | | | smells, and looks normal. |
| toxin is concentrated up the food chain, ciguatera is | | | | Histamine causes allergic reaction. Scombroid poisoning |
| most common in carnivorous fish weighing more than | | | | symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, |
| 6 pounds (2.5 kilos). Barracuda, sea bass, grouper, | | | | flushing, headache, hives, nausea, and vomiting. |
| jack, and moray eel are the most common reservoirs | | | | Treatment with antihistamines (your product?) is |
| of the toxin. Most ciguatera outbreaks occur in Florida | | | | very effective. |
| and Hawaii, although the toxin also occurs in fish | | | | How do you avoid seafood poisoning? |
| caught in the Caribbean. | | | | - Avoid any fish that has a sharp, peppery taste |
| Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning begin with | | | | even before it is seasoned (risk of scombroid |
| abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, | | | | poisoning). |
| with neurological sequelae, numbness and tingling in | | | | - Avoid any fish that has an ammonia smell (risk of |
| the arms, legs, and lips. There may be sensory | | | | scombroid poisoning). |
| reversal where cold objects feel hot; for instance, | | | | - Avoid reef fish that are larger than your plate (risk |
| biting into an ice cream cone may cause a sensation | | | | of ciguatera). |
| of burning in the mouth. The teeth may feel numb or | | | | - Avoid shellfish harvested in areas suffering red tide |
| loose. | | | | - Do not eat bivalve mollusks (clams, mussels, |
| Symptoms may last weeks or months, and can be | | | | oysters, and scallops) in developing countries. |
| reactivated by eating alcohol, fish of any kind, or | | | | - If fish makes your tongue tingle, suspect ciguatera |
| nuts. | | | | poisoning. |