Four family members in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur landed in the hospital while two of their animals died after eating puffer fish referred to locally as “butete.”

The four were taken to the hospital after experiencing fatigue, dizziness, and vomiting. They have been discharged.

One of the four is the father who brought home an estimated two kilos of puffer fish for dinner. His two children and daughter-in-law also got poisoned.

The family’s cat and a chicken died after they were fed with leftover fish.

“Nangalanag daw sila sa butete. Ana ko, pag-adto nalang mo og hospital kay delikado na. Mao to ang akong pag-umangkon, mao gyud to ang nagrabehan kay kuan daw siya luya, wala nay kusog, dili na katindog,” said a relative.

She said the family has since been eating puffer fish and no one was ever poisoned.

“Anad gyud na sila og kaon og butete. Mao gyud na mukaon gyud na silag butete kay maayo man gud to ang akong pag-umangkon mukuha daw og palay-palay. Gabie, natimingan gyud,” she said.

The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) said puffer fish has toxin that is unsafe for human consumption. It does not recommend anyone eating the fish. 

“Ang butete man gud, sa English pa puffer fish, naa gyud na siyay toxin nga naa sa iyahang lawas. Ang Bureau of Fisheries o atong fisheries sector diri sa atoang Municipal Agriculture Office wala gyud naga-recommend nga pwede nato kaonon ang butete,” Joylen Dominice of the Municipal Agriculture Office said.

MAO added that selling puffer fish is also prohibited.

“Kung makakuha sila og butete, irecommend namo nga ibalik lang pud sa dagat,” Dominice added.