Fugu

[pun...@mindspring.com]

I'm sure that this topic has been drawn out on this NG in the past, but
I've never seen it.
So I'm interested if anybody knows during which seasoon Fugu is available
and if anyone knows of a restaurant in the Atlanta area that ever carries
it? Or, how about a website that discusses fugu in detail?
Thanks.

[David Lutjen]

<pun...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:8k5a5g$a2n$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...

> So I'm interested if anybody knows during which seasoon Fugu is available

It is available year round . . . in Japan.

> and if anyone knows of a restaurant in the Atlanta area that ever carries
it?

Atlanta, no. Below is a clip from an import alert from the FDA. This
discusses the problem FDA has with fugu + shows the one exemption allowing
import of fugu . . . a bunch of baloney. Feel free to touch base with any
of the FDA contacts listed. While there are some who wouldn't touch a
package of processed fugu, I am one of those who has enjoyed it (along with
millions of others in Japan and elsewhere) whenever I can. Then again, I
live in Oregon . . . the only state with physician-assisted suicide. <g>

IA#16-20, ----Revised 01/17/97

SUBJ: REVISION OF IMPORT ALERT #16-20, "Detention Without
Physical Examination of Puffer Fish"

Note: This alert is being revised to provide information
regarding an FDA/Japanese government agreement for
the limited importation of puffer fish into the
United States. Changes are bracketed by asterisks
"**".

TYPE OF ALERT: Detention without physical examination.

(Note: This import alert contains guidance to FDA
field personnel only. It does not establish any
requirements, or create any rights or obligations
on FDA or on regulated entities.)

PRODUCT : Puffer Fish; Globe Fish; Swell Fish; Fugu; Members
of the order Tetraodonitiformes

PRODUCT CODE: **16A--65, 16B--65, 16C--65, 16D--65**

PAC FOR
COLLECTION : 07844

PROBLEM : Tetrodotoxin, a poisonous substance

COUNTRY : All (See heading GUIDANCE below)

MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER : All

MANUFACTURER
SHIPPER I.D.#: N/A

IMPORTER'S
I.D.# : N/A

CHARGE : "The article is subject to refusal of admission
pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears
to contain a poisonous and deleterious substance
(tetrodotoxin) which would ordinarily render it
injurious to health [Adulteration, Section
402(a)(1)]."

RECOMMENDING
OFFICE : Division of Import Operations and Policy (HFC-170)
Office of Seafood/Policy & Guidance Branch (HFS-
416) **Office of Field Programs, Division of
Enforcement, Imports Program Branch (HFS-605)**

REASON FOR
ALERT : Tetrodotoxin poisoning results from the ingestion
of edible portions of the puffer fish, which may
become contaminated from the poisonous excised
tissue during processing, or from the transfer of
the toxin from poisonous parts as result of
improper freezing and gradual thawing of
unprocessed puffer fish. There is a 50% fatality
rate among those who ingest tetrodotoxin (TTX).

GUIDANCE : Districts may detain, without physical
examination, all shipments of Puffer Fish, Globe
Fish, Swell Fish, Fugu, or other members of the
order Tetradontiformes.

** NOTE: Experience has shown that the best method
for obtaining a product which will not
cause illness or death is the highly
specialized training and knowledge for
product preparation. Based on this
premise, there is an agreement between FDA
and the government of Japan, which permits
the importation of the species Tora
(Tiger) Fugu (fugu rubripes rubripes).
With this agreement, the puffer fish are:

ž processed and prepared, so that they are "ready" for
consumption, by the Fugu Fish Market in the city of
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, which
handles over 80% of the total Fugu consumption in
Japan, and who's processing factories are manned by
specialists licensed by the Government as special
Fugu Chefs; and

ž shipped certified, by the Department of Health of
the city of Shiminoseki, in Yamaguchi Prefecture,
Japan, as legally processed in an authorized
processing factory.

These shipments of puffer fish from Japan are
allowed into the United States through JFK
International Airport. These puffer fish are
brought into the United States no more than two or
three times a year, between September and March.
The US import organization, Wako International, located
in New York City, imports these fish into the United
States. Wako oversees the importation to assure that
the puffer fish meet the substance of the FDA/Japanese
agreement.

In general, puffer fish appear to be adulterated
under 402(a)(1) because of the presence of toxin.
However, those Japanese puffer fish brought in to
New York City's JFK International Airport do not
have the appearance of adulteration because of the
preparation process, as referenced in the agreement
between the Japanese Government and the FDA**

Japan (JP,490); China (CN,280); Taiwan (TW,281);
Philippines (PH,725); and Mexico (MX,595) are the
countries that frequently export puffer fish.

For information on this and other requirements
concerning this alert, contact DIOP (301-443-6553) or
**Frank Sikorsky, Imports Program Branch, Office of
Field Programs at (202) 205-4606 or 4726.**

PRIORITY
GUIDANCE: I

FOI : No purging is necessary.

KEYWORDS: Puffer Fish, Globe Fish, Swell Fish, Fugu,
Tetrodotoxin, Tetradontiformes.

PREPARED
BY : Marvin A. Blumberg, DIOP, 301-443-6553

DATE LOADED INTO FIARS: 01/17/97