Fighting ciguatoxin food poisoning – European scientists join forces

A cooperation project on ciguatoxin food poisoning involving 13 organisations from six Member States and EFSA is taking shape. Representatives of Spain and EFSA signed a Framework Partnership Agreement on 19 April 2016 to carry out a four-year project on risk characterisation The final stage of risk assessment, in which the likelihood that a particular substance will cause harm is calculated in the light of the nature of the hazard and the extent to which people, animals, plants and/or the environment are exposed to it. of ciguatera food poisoning in Europe.

Ciguatoxin is found in fish that feed on a microorganism that produces the toxic substance. Consumers eating affected fish can suffer from a range of symptoms including gastrointestinal and neurological effects.

Since 2008, Spain and Portugal have reported outbreaks of ciguatoxin food poisoning in the Canary Islands and Madeira. New findings suggest the microorganism is becoming more widespread in the Mediterranean.

Watch the video in which Ana Canals, representing Spain on EFSA’s Advisory Forum, and Felipa Melo Vasconcelos, from the Economic and Food Safety Authority of Portugal (ASAE), explain the agreement.