The toll is once again dramatic: 3 deaths, some deceased animals and 30 people hospitalized in the Philippines after eating a stew made from sea turtle meat
In Philippinesthree people belonging to the Teduray indigenous community they lost their liveswhile over 30 have been hospitalizedafter consuming one stew made from sea turtle meata protected and endangered species.
The incident occurred in the coastal province of Maguindanao del Norte, where the consumption of sea turtles, although illegal under the country’s environmental laws, is still a widespread practice in some communities as part of the culinary tradition.
The turtle was probably contaminated with toxic algae
Symptoms reported by sufferers included diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal painwhich occurred shortly after eating the dish, cooked adobo-style with vinegar and soy sauce. Even some pets who had ingested the same meat, including dogs, cats and chickens, died.
This suggested that the toxicity was probably related to the sea turtle itself contaminated by toxic algae which she had fed on. This phenomenon is known to occur when turtles ingest harmful marine plants, which make their meat unsafe for human consumption.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to precisely determine the causes of the deaths. Meanwhile, Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr., an official in the region, called for strict enforcement of the sea turtle hunting ban to prevent further similar tragedies.
Episodes like this continue to happen
This is why accidents of this type occur: previous cases, such as that of 2013 in the province of Samar, had already highlighted the risks associated with the consumption of sea turtles. Furthermore, this year a similar episode occurred in Zanzibar, where eight children and one adult died and 78 people were hospitalized after eating turtle meat.
Sea turtles are considered a delicacy in some cultures, but their consumption is strongly not recommended both for health risks and for the need to protect these vulnerable species. This new case once again highlights the importance of raising awareness among communities about the ecological impact and health dangers resulting from the consumption of protected animals with the aim of avoiding the recurrence of similar tragedies.
