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An 83-year-old woman in Malaysia died on Saturday (Mar. 25) after consuming pufferfish for lunch.

Her cause of death was identified as food poisoning, possibly due to toxin ingestion, the Johor Health and Unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon told The Star.

Her husband, 84, who also ate pufferfish, was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and is fighting for his life.

Pufferfish known as "chicken thigh fish" by locals

Ling said the couple from Jalan Sin Tiam in Johor ordered the pufferfish from a seller through Facebook.

It was their first time buying pufferfish, also known as "chicken thigh fish" by local Chinese, according to Malaysian media China Press.

The couple's son told local media that his father had received five pufferfish from the street vendor in the morning, and his mother fried two for lunch.

Difficulty breathing after lunch

"I happened to return home after lunch, and my mother told me she was feeling unwell while my father was feeling numb," he said.

Ling explained that the couple had breathing difficulties and felt shivers.

Their son quickly took them to the hospital, and they were both admitted into the ICU.

The woman was pronounced dead at 7pm.

Sold to more than one customer

In a Facebook post dated Mar. 27, Ling warned the public about errant vendors selling pufferfish in locations such as Batu Pahat, Yong Peng and Kluang.

He said they had procured the fish from Mersing.

He also said that laboratory analysis is being conducted.

Ling told The Star that the online seller who had sold the fish to the couple had also sold 15kg of pufferfish to four customers in Chamek, four others in Paloh and one in Yong Peng.

Ling noted that local authorities had seized these fish before they had consumed them.

Is pufferfish consumable?

Pufferfish, also known as "fugu", is a famed delicacy in Japan.

According to an advisory on Singapore Food Agency's (SFA) website, the fish contains a lethal poison known as tetrodotoxin, where as little as 0.002g is enough to kill an adult human.

Tetrodotoxin is completely colourless and odourless and will not be destroyed through cooking.

When someone consumes the toxin, the person will become paralysed and can suffocate to death, or become unable to breathe.

Depending on the dosage, this can happen within minutes, and there is no antidote.

SFA permits the import of pufferfish into Singapore under strict conditions — with Japan the only country approved to export pufferfish here.

SFA advises against eating pufferfish

While Singapore does not have a pufferfish preparation license system, SFA requires the pufferfish to be pre-prepared by licensed chefs in Japan.

SFA advises the public never to consume pufferfish or related fish, like porcupine fish, that have been caught in the wild and prepared by amateurs.

Should the consumer want to eat pufferfish, never consume their liver and ovaries as it is where the toxin accumulates.

Farm-raised pufferfish are also safer than wild-caught ones as they have less toxin.

Those who feel discomfort, tingling or experience paralysis after consuming pufferfish should seek immediate medical attention.

The "top tip" reiterated by SFA?

"The simplest way is to avoid consuming pufferfish entirely."

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Top images via the woman's family & Wikipedia