Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Tokyo Metropolitan Government food safety FAQ » Is there any poisonous fish other than puffer fish? Can we eat even poisonous fish if we cook it in a correct way?

Is there any poisonous fish other than puffer fish? Can we eat even poisonous fish if we cook it in a correct way?

Is there any poisonous fish other than puffer fish? Can we eat even poisonous fish if we cook it in a correct way?

Not only puffer fish are poisonous.  There are poisonous fish looking very much like edible fish.  Never eat, sell, or give to others, any fish that cannot be determined to be edible.
Some poisons from poisonous fish cannot be destroyed by heating and freezing. In addition, the freshness of fish has no effect.
Note that cooking of puffer fish requires correct knowledge and processing skills.  Never cook puffer fish you have caught by yourself.



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Poisonous  fish (example)1
Poisonous  fish (example)2
Poisonous  fish (example)3
<Poisonous fish (example)>

  • Ciguatera toxin
    Food poisoning symptoms: The following symptoms appear 2 to 30 hours after eating:
    (Digestive system) Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomachache, etc.
    (Circulatory system) Bradycardia (gradual slowdown of pulse), decrease of blood pressure, etc.
    (Nervous system) Arthralgia, numbness, dry ice sensation (dysthermesthesia)
    Poisonous fish (example): Yellow-edged lyretail, large rocky porgy, Lutjanus monostigma (Ittenfuedai), two-spot red snapper, great barracuda

  • Palytoxin and other poisons resembling it
    Food poisoning symptoms: The following symptoms appear approximately 12-24 hours after eating.
    It takes several days to several weeks for recovery and death may be caused if the symptoms are severe.
    Violent muscular pain (main symptom), breathing difficulty, walking difficulty, oppressive feeling in chest, paralysis, cramp, etc.

    Poisonous fish (example): Knobsnout parrotfish, boxfish, scrawled filefish, roundbelly cowfish
  • Vitamin A
    Food poisoning symptoms: Violent headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, skin peeling, etc. (due to excessive consumption of vitamin A)

    Poisonous fish (example): California black seabass (lever)
  • Abnormal lipid (wax ester)
    Food poisoning symptoms: Diarrhea
    Poisonous fish (example): Escolar, oilfish

  • Puffer toxin (tetrodotoxin)
    Food poisoning symptoms: Numbness of mouth and tongue, headache, vomiting, paralysis of hands and legs, speech difficulty, etc.
    Death may be caused due to breathing difficulty.

    Poisonous fish (example): Puffers

Bureau of Public Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
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