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Spoiled tuna can cause a weird food poisoning that looks almost like an allergic reaction
A tuna recall highlighted scombroid poisoning, where bacteria create enough histamine in fish to make people flush, sweat and feel burning in the mouth.
A tuna recall received an FDA Class II classification after testing found elevated levels of scombrotoxin, also known as histamine poisoning.
Why it matters
Scombroid poisoning is unusual because properly cooking the fish may not solve the problem once high histamine levels have developed.
What it feels like
Symptoms can include facial flushing, sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness and a peppery or burning sensation in the mouth—sometimes making it look more like an allergic reaction than ordinary food poisoning.