RELATED: If You’re Over 65, Avoid This One Type of Meat, Experts Say. There are two main types of fish poisoning that can wreak havoc on your health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These are known as scombroid poisoning and ciguatera poisoning. The latter is a serious foodborne illness that affects at least 50,000 individuals annually, and is typically found in warm-water, reef-dwelling fish. Most frequently, this type of poisoning is linked to “large carnivorous reef fish,” including barracuda, grouper, moray eel, amberjack, sea bass, or sturgeon. Ciguatoxin and maitotoxin, both of which cause ciguatera poisoning, can also be found in omnivorous and herbivorous species including parrot fish, surgeonfish, and red snapper. RELATED: If You Notice This on Your Eggs, Throw Them Out Immediately, Experts Say. As you age, your body becomes more susceptible to serious foodborne illness due to changes in your immune system. Past the age of 65, your organs are less efficient at fighting off harmful germs in the gastrointestinal tract. Besides your stomach producing less acid that can fight bacteria in your intestines, your liver and kidneys may become less able to filter out toxins.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb If you happen to have any underlying illnesses—a possibility that becomes more likely as you age—this risk is compounded. Most often, Americans who contract ciguatera poisoning do so while traveling to highly endemic areas—in particular, tropical and subtropical regions near the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea. Increasingly, cases are popping up stateside “in non-endemic areas as a result of the increasing global trade in seafood products,” says the CDC. Additionally, the risk is slated to rise in coming years due to environmental changes in coral reefs. “The risk of ciguatera poisoning is likely to increase as coral reefs deteriorate because of climate change, ocean acidification, offshore construction, and nutrient runoff,” the health authority explains. For more food safety news sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Ciguatera poisoning is known to cause cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, according to the CDC. These may include slowed abdominal pain, blurred vision, diarrhea, fatigue, hypotension, insomnia, itching, malaise, nausea, a sensation of loose or painful teeth, slowed heart rate, sweating, tingling, vomiting, and weakness. While death from ciguatera poisoning is rare, the CDC warns that neurological symptoms “usually last a few days to several weeks but may persist for months or even years.” Thankfully, there are many less risky fish in the sea to choose from. RELATED: The One Question You Should Always Ask Your Server Before Ordering, CDC Says.
