NONTHABURI, 10 May 2014 – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has warned the public against the consumption of contaminated boiled bamboo shoot that are packaged in plastic bags or buckles, warning that consumption may lead to fatal health complications.
MOPH Minister Rajata Rajatanavin has advised the public to re-boil bagged or buckled boiled bamboo shoots prior to consumption for 15 minutes, in order to get rid of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The Clostridium botulinum bacteria is the main cause of the Botulism disease.
The Botulism disease can cause complications such as weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhoea or constipation, muscle paralysis, and can even lead severe health conditions such as cardiac arrest.
The Director-General of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) Sopon Mekthon has elaborated that there are four strains of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, namely the highly poisonous Type A that causes 60-70 percent of deaths, the heat resistant Type B that can live in foods longer than other types and causes about 25 percent of deaths, and the Type E and F that is commonly found in seafood.
He has said that these toxins can be easily destroyed after boiling the food for 15 minutes. However, boiled bamboo shoots with unusual package, color, or smell, should not be consumed, and advises the public to get rid of it by burying it.
