Ingestion can cause itching around the mouth, headaches, and dizziness within 20 minutes to two hours, rapidly progressing to muscle weakness, paralysis, and fatal respiratory failure. There is no known antidote . Regional Advisories (March – September 2020)
The primary risk is tetrodotoxin (TTX) , a potent biotoxin found in the fish's liver, ovaries, and skin. TTX is heat-stable and cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing.
In July 2020, the Department of Public Health conducted testing on 80 fish in the Farmington River. While PFAS levels had declined, a statewide advisory remained in place for all freshwater fish (except sunfish and trout) due to mercury contamination, recommending no more than one meal per week for the general population.
While there is no single official global report titled "Blow Fish – March-September 2020," several critical advisories and health reports regarding puffer fish (also known as blowfish or fugu) were active or released during that specific timeframe.
