The public is advised that the Health and Social Care Directorate has received a small number of reports of minor health issues that have been associated with the consumption of certain fish products.
Reports indicate that certain individuals have experienced symptoms of facial flushing, headaches and diarrhoea within approximately 10-60 minutes following the consumption of tuna, with tuna mince being commonly implicated in the reported cases.
The likely cause of these symptoms is scombroid fish poisoning, also known as histamine fish poisoning. Scombroid fish poisoning may occur following the consumption of certain types of fish that have been improperly stored after capture, or during subsequent handling, processing, retail distribution or home preparation.
The number of reported cases is fewer than twenty. Scombroid fish poisoning is not life-threatening and usually settles on its own within 4–6 hours. Oral antihistamines may help to alleviate symptoms.
Initial investigations and inspections conducted by Environmental Health and Public Health have identified that tuna mince processed by the Saints Tuna Corporation (STC) in March 2026 may be one possible source of the scombroid fish poisoning. STC have been instructed to recall all tuna mince processed during the period between 12 March 2026 and 27 March 2026, which represents a wider range of processing dates than those reported to the health authorities as a precautionary measure.
Further investigations and inspections across the fishing industry are ongoing, including laboratory testing to confirm the presence of elevated levels of histamine within certain fish products.
In the meantime, the public are requested to:
- avoid consuming products or meals containing tuna mince until further notice;
- seek immediate medical care if developing difficulty breathing, blurred vision, tongue swelling or fainting episodes after eating tuna;
- report any adverse reactions after eating tuna (including in the past 3 months) to Environmental Health at eh.office@sainthelena.gov.sh; and
- return any tuna mince products with labelling to prove that it was processed by STC between 12 March and 27 March 2026 to the place of purchase for issuance of a refund. Retailers will return products to STC for reimbursement.
A further update will be issued by Wednesday 29April when the majority of investigations and inspections will have concluded.
#StHelena #HistamineFishPoisoning #Investigation