During the weekend, after consuming grilled tuna in a restaurant in Sarzana (La Spezia), two people accused sudden and worrying symptoms: burning in the mouth, intense tearing, skin redness, headache and gastrointestinal disorders. The alarm and hospitalization to the emergency room of the Sant’Andrea hospital immediate.
It is not the first episode of food poisoning recorded in Italy during the summer: in recent months there have been cases of street food contaminated by botulinum and several other situations in which entire groups of people have accused Malori after eating at the restaurant.
But this time what happened? A mackerel syndrome is suspected. Here it is.
What is mackerel syndrome
In the case of La Spezia, the symptoms observed led the doctors to suspect a mackerel syndrome, a food intoxication caused by Istamin produced by bacteria present in the fish not preserved correctly. The problem concerns above all tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies and herring, which can develop histamine if the cold chain is interrupted even for a few hours.
Symptoms appear very quickly, often within a few minutes or an hour of consumption, and may include:
In the most sensitive subjects, reactions similar to allergic ones may occur, which is why the syndrome is often confused with a real allergy. Unlike allergies, however, the toxic substance is produced by bacteria and not by the human body: it is therefore a intoxication due to food.
An insidious aspect of mackerel syndrome is that contaminated fish does not show visible alterations: neither smell, nor flavor, nor color help to recognize it. In addition, the histamine is heat resistant, therefore neither cooking, nor freezing, nor the insulting or smoking eliminate it.
Returning to the case of La Spezia, the ASL5 checks were immediate: the veterinary service recovered the suspicious tuna in the restaurant’s kitchen and started laboratory analyzes to confirm the presence of histamine. In the meantime, the activity has been suspended and the restaurateur sanctioned with 4,500 euros, while any criminal responsibilities remain open in the event of a positive outcome of the analyzes.
Consumer tips
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, it is important to follow some fundamental rules:
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