Woman gets food poisoning after eating wild taro

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a case of suspected food poisoning as a woman developed a sore throat and hoarseness of voice shortly after consuming a wild taro.

The 50-year-old patient consumed the wild taro picked from a hillside near Jordan Valley Park yesterday (Jan 7). She attended the accident and emergency department of United Christian Hospital today and was admitted for further treatment.

The clinical diagnosis was suspected calcium oxalate raphide poisoning, and she is now in stable condition.

This is the second case following December 16, which saw a 51-year-old woman develop symptoms such as paralysis of her mouth and throat after eating home-grown taro in Wan Chai District.

Taro is a popular ingredient used to prepare various dishes and desserts. However, some plants that look like taro - like giant alocasia - contain toxins such as calcium oxalate raphide that can cause food poisoning.