Baguio mystery crab report prompts BFAR inspection

BAGUIO CITY — Authorities inspected the fish section of the Baguio City Public Market on Monday (Aug. 24) after a consumer reported buying an unfamiliar crab that she feared could be poisonous.

In a statement issued by the Baguio City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO), the office said the consumer bought crabs from the market’s Fish Section on Aug. 22 and later noticed a brownish-red crab, estimated to be three to four inches long, mixed with the smaller edible crustaceans she had purchased.

Concerned about the crab’s unusual appearance, the consumer searched online for information and found reports suggesting that it could be poisonous. She decided not to consume the crabs and discarded her purchase.

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The consumer reported the matter to the CVAO-Abattoir and Animal Products Quality Assurance Services Division on Aug. 23. She also shared her concern on several online community platforms, where the report gained public attention.

On Aug. 24, CVAO personnel met with the consumer to obtain first-hand information and retrieve the specimen for identification and analysis. However, the crab had already been discarded and was no longer available for examination.

The Meat and Fishery Products Monitoring Task Force, led by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera (BFAR-CAR), then conducted a joint inspection of the market’s Fish Section together with CVAO, the City Treasury Office-Market Division and the Mayor’s Office Public Safety and Order Division.

The inspection was led by Nazario Briguera, OIC BFAR Cordillera regional director . No suspected poisonous crabs were found during the inspection, according to CVAO.

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CVAO said BFAR and the city office could not determine the identity of the crab reported by the consumer nor confirm whether it was poisonous because the specimen was no longer available for examination.

The office also cautioned that photographs alone are not sufficient to establish the species of a crab or determine whether it is poisonous, saying actual species identification and appropriate laboratory analysis are needed.

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During the inspection, authorities also distributed information posters on poisonous fish and crabs to raise awareness among consumers and seafood vendors.

CVAO said its personnel conduct daily inspections and monitoring at the Fish Section to help ensure the safety of seafood being sold.

It urged consumers who encounter unfamiliar marine species to immediately report them to BFAR or CVAO and, whenever possible, preserve the specimen for proper assessment.

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The office also reminded the public not to rely solely on online searches, artificial intelligence or social media posts to determine whether an unfamiliar marine species is poisonous or safe for consumption. Maureen Matayew/ Contributor