In the Philippines, three people died and at least 32 were hospitalized after eating an endangered sea turtle cooked in a stew.
Dozens of Teduray indigenous people have reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal spasms since eating the dish last week in a seaside town in Maguindanao del Norte province, officials said.
Although it is illegal to hunt or consume sea turtles under Philippine environmental protection laws, these sea creatures are still eaten as a traditional delicacy in some communities.
But sea turtles that consume contaminated algae – including those that appear healthy – can be toxic when cooked and eaten.
Some of the dogs, cats and chickens fed the same sea turtle also died, Irene Dillo, a local official, told the BBC. She added that authorities were investigating the causes of the deaths.
The sea turtle was cooked as adobo, a popular Filipino dish consisting of meat and vegetables simmered in vinegar and soy sauce.
Residents of Datu Blah Sinsuat, a coastal town known for its white sandy beaches and clear waters, often eat from the sea. “It's a shame because there are so many other seafood options in their village – lobsters, fish,” Ms. Dillo said.
Most of the hospitalized residents have since been released, local media reported, while the three people who died were buried immediately, in line with local tradition.
Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr, a local councillor, said he had asked local authorities to strictly enforce a ban on hunting sea turtles in the area, vowing that “this incident of food poisoning would not happen again”.
Most sea turtle species are classified as endangered and it is illegal in the Philippines to collect, harm or kill them. However, in some cultures, sea turtles are hunted for their meat and eggs, which are believed to contain medicinal properties.
In 2013, 68 people in the Philippines' Eastern Samar province fell ill – and four of them died – after consuming a sea turtle found near their village.
