Chief Medical Officer for
St Ann Dr Deborah Weir has called on residents to be cautious when purchasing or cooking ackees after four suspected cases of ackee poisoning surfaced in the parish recently.
The Jamaica Observer has learned that one of three persons from a Brown’s Town family has died after the three were taken to the hospital for treatment for suspected ackee poisoning late last month.
During the monthly sitting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation last Thursday, Dr Weir said in the cooler months of the year there are usually more cases of ackee poisoning. With the recent suspected cases, she called on residents to exercise caution when buying or preparing ackees.
She said that the health department has been engaging communities and vendors, warning them of the dangers of picking and selling or eating the fruit before it is ready to be consumed.
On Thursday the St Ann Health Department issued a number of guidelines.
The department warned that the ackee should be opened like a wide yawn when picked. The fruit should be easily removed from the pods and should be without blemishes such as razor or knife marks. The fruit should be cleaned to remove the seed and pink or reddish membrane. Ackees should be cooked and drained before being combined with other foods.
“The ackee should be cooked by itself and the water poured off,” Dr Weir warned.
Persons are also warned to buy ackees from reputable sources.
Symptoms of ackee poisoning includes vomiting and other signs of gastroenteritis. The hypoglycin in ackees also causes the blood sugar level to drop.
Love ackee, but mi nah eat it unless my mom get it off a tree at my house!!growing up a family of 4 in Clarendon died bcuz of it!!!
I cannot stand these wicked vendors who just fi a money put ppl life in jeopardy. One time my aunt bought some ackee bring up and all di cook wi cook di ackee it caan get soft, mussi over an hour ackee a cook and caan soften up. Wi just decide fi toss it in the garbage cause no ackee teck so long di cook, and wi life more valuable than the financial loss. You gotta either have your own tree or buy with them in the open pods.