8 Children Die After Eating Sea Turtle Meat On Remote African Island
NDTV
Notably, sea turtle meat is considered a delicacy in the region despite well-known food poisoning dangers.
In a tragic incident, eight children and an adult died after eating sea turtle meat on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, Metro reported. A further 78 people were hospitalised after consuming the meal on March 5, according to Mkoani District medical officer, Dr Haji Bakari.
Notably, sea turtle meat is considered a delicacy in the region despite well-known food poisoning dangers. The meat is said to taste like beef with a texture that can be roughly compared to squid or alligator.
Dr Bakari said laboratory tests conducted confirmed all casualties had eaten sea turtle meat. In rare cases, turtle meat can be toxic because of a type of food poisoning known as chelonitoxism. Though the exact cause is not known, it is thought to be linked to poisonous algae which the turtles eat, according to the Turtle Foundation charity.
