Is Sea Turtle Meat Poisonous?

The Full Story

Harmful algal blooms, caused by the uncontrolled growth of algae species, can occur in marine or freshwater environments. The toxins produced by the rapidly proliferating algae are associated with the development of multiple foodborne illnesses including shellfish poisoning and ciguatera fish poisoning. In freshwater environments, cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) produce toxins that can affect the human nervous system, liver, and other organs. When humans come into contact with water contaminated with cyanobacteria, symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache can occur. Skin exposure to cyanobacteria can cause rashes, blistering, and itching.

There are thousands of cyanobacteria species that live in in the seagrass and sandy areas of Hawaii, Australia, and other tropical locations. When fish and other aquatic life feed on cyanobacteria, the bacteria remain within their bodies and can be detected in muscle, skin, and other organs. When humans eat fish affected by cyanobacteria, undesirable signs and symptoms can occur. In Hawaii, human consumption of seaweed contaminated with cyanobacteria has caused severe mouth pain and ulcerations in some individuals. 

Another type of poisoning believed to be related to cyanobacteria is called “chelonitoxism” and occurs after consumption of contaminated sea turtle meat. This is a rare disease that most commonly occurs in Indo-Pacific countries such as Madagascar and the Philippines. Even though sea turtles are an endangered species protected by international regulations that prohibit both the hunting and human consumptions of these species, mass outbreaks of chelonitoxism continue to occur, often in the context of group celebrations. Affected turtles appear healthy and do not exhibit signs of illness, but human poisoning can occur if the turtle meat is cooked, eaten raw or boiled in soup, and all parts of the turtle are potentially toxic. Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles are most commonly implicated in cases of chelonitoxism, but poisoning can also occur after the ingestion of other turtle species. Common initial symptoms occur within a few days of eating the turtle meat and include itching and pain in the mouth and throat, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Mouth and tongue ulcerations may also be present, and some individuals may develop neurologic disturbances such as confusion, seizures, or coma. Survivors can have permanent disabilities including paralysis, and death may occur in severe cases of poisoning. Children are especially susceptible to this type of poisoning, and the toxin can be passed in breast milk from a mother to her infant. Pets have also died after eating contaminated sea turtle meat or the vomit of affected humans.

Because the signs and symptoms of chelonitoxism are similar to those of other types of food poisoning such as ciguatera, the diagnosis can be challenging to establish. There is no antidote for chelonitoxism, as the specific toxins responsible for the illness have not been identified. While treatment generally involves symptomatic or supportive care with intravenous fluids, electrolyte replacement, and respiratory support, advanced medical care is often not available in the regions where outbreaks tend to occur. In addition, some individuals affected by chelonitoxism may be afraid to seek medical care due to fears of prosecution related to their illegal consumption of turtle meat. These reasons may be responsible for the relatively high mortality rates noted in recent outbreaks of chelonitoxism. 

If you suspect food poisoning, get help online or call 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, and available 24 hours a day.

Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD
Medical Toxicologist