A mounting death toll among consumers has prompted Vietnamese health officials to press for a government ban on the sale of pufferfish.
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The fish is an infamous Japanese delicacy, but the failure to properly remove its highly toxic skin and entrails before it is served up is causing an increasing number of deaths.
The Vietnam News newspaper reported this week that in the twelve central provinces of Vietnam alone, 19 consumers have died since the beginning of this year. According to official figures from the ministry of health, last year saw the deaths of 20 restaurant goers throughout the whole of Vietnam. In 1999 meanwhile, the pufferfish caused 13 deaths.
