Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Non-Gi complaints w/ IBS

Ha Ha, no Bob, not a platypus (as vicious a wee beastie they are), ciguatoxin is a neurotoxin that builds up in the food chain and accumulates in large reef fish, some species worse than others, Barred spanish mackeral was the culprit in my case. The toxin is produced by a dinoflagellate organism amongst the algae on coral reefs, little fish ingest it, get eaten by bigger fish, etc etc up the food chain until the big fish end up with quite a concentration of it.
It doesnt affect the fish, can't be detected by taste or odour, is unaffected by freezing or cooking, and up until recently there was no test for it. The test is still largely unknown and unused, and of course fishing industries don't want to know about it as it would cost them to test their catch. Of course it's one of those things people just don't give a damn about UNLESS of course they've had it as it is an extremely nasty thing and i am still suffering effects 35 years later!
What with all the omega-3 fish oils being added to breads and who knows what else these days, it is of some concern to those who have had it, even the tiniest bit of ciguatoxin can have a devastating effect!
Sorry for the long winded reply but i do like to eduate folks when i get the chance, and if i had been spiked by a stroppy platypus all those years ago instead i would've been a lucky guy!
cheers
Ralph

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