The protection of public health is an issue of fundamental importance for any nation, and Italy is no exception. With rigorous regulations, our country is committed to protecting consumers from dangerous or harmful foods. Among the various provisions, they are certain food species are prohibiteddangerous to human health or harmful to the environment.
The danger that lies in the puffer fish
Fish is an important source of protein and other essential nutrients, but not all species are safe for human consumption. One of the best known examples is the puffer fish, or fugu, admired for its culinary delicacy but feared for its lethal potential. Pufferfish contains a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, concentrated mainly in the skin, viscera and gonads of the animal. This toxin is so potent that ingesting it can lead to muscle paralysis and even death.
Despite its popularity in some parts of the world, the pufferfish has been banned in Italy since 1992 due to the serious risk it poses to human health. Its preparation requires great skill and precision to carefully remove the toxic parts of the animal, and even in Japan, where it is consumed, there are still cases of poisoning due to errors in preparation.
The main challenge in the preparation of puffer fish lies in fact to remove the toxic parts completely without contaminating the edible part. Even a small residual trace of tetrodotoxin in fish can cause severe symptoms such as numbness, breathing problems and muscle paralysis. In more serious cases, this can even lead to respiratory arrest, potentially being lethal.
Other risky and prohibited foods
Another prohibited food is black pudding, a preparation based on pig’s blood widespread in some Italian culinary traditions. This food is strictly prohibited for hygienic-sanitary reasons, as it can transmit diseases and represents a serious risk to human health.
Also the Casu marzua Sardinian cheese containing fly larvae, has been banned Europe-wide due to health risks associated with ingesting the larvae and lack of sanitation requirements.
The Foie grasa delicious food obtained from the enlarged liver of ducks or geese, is prohibited in its production in Italy due to force-feeding practices considered cruel and harmful to animal welfare.
As for the fish market, also i sea dates (molluscs similar to mussels) have been banned in Europe to preserve marine biodiversity, as their harvesting damages sea coasts.
Finally, the game birds such as larks, thrushes and finches have been banned since 2014 to protect these species and prevent harmful hunting practices.
What is the risk of consuming prohibited foods?
Compliance with these prohibitions is essential to protect public health and the environment. Consuming banned foods can pose serious health risks but the problems don’t end there. Violation of these laws also entails heavy sanctions for the wallet, we are talking about fines of up to 50 thousand euros. The sale of these foods without a license, in general, can lead to fines ranging from 2,500 to 15 thousand euros.
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