ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Health Office has called on the public to temporarily stop buying and eating “aloy” or tulingan as authorities continue to track food poisoning cases in Western Visayas.
The advisory followed an earlier report from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, which logged over 20 individuals who fell ill after consuming the fish in different parts of Iloilo province.
City health officials said the cases may be linked to scombroid poisoning, a condition caused by the buildup of histamine in fish that are not properly chilled after being caught.
In its public advisory, the city stressed that histamine forms when fish are exposed to warm temperatures and are not immediately stored on ice. Once present, the toxin cannot be removed even if the fish is cooked, fried, or reheated.
Vendors were reminded to sell only fresh fish and to strictly observe proper storage practices, particularly maintaining a one-to-one ice-to-fish ratio to keep products cold. They were also cautioned against leaving fish exposed to heat for extended periods.
Consumers, meanwhile, were urged to avoid purchasing or eating tulingan while the investigation is ongoing.
The health office also advised the public to watch out for warning signs such as fish with a metallic or unusually sharp taste, foul odor, or soft and mushy flesh.
The alert comes after cases recorded from April 6 to 7 affected several areas, including Passi City, with additional reports from nearby towns. Some of the fish linked to the illnesses were reportedly sold by roaming vendors.
Residents who develop symptoms such as skin redness, itching, dizziness, stomach pain, or difficulty breathing after eating fish are advised to seek immediate medical attention.
Authorities also encouraged the public to promptly report suspected food poisoning incidents to their barangay or directly to the city health office to help in monitoring and response efforts./PN
