THE INDEPENDENT (Johannesburg S Africa) 15 February 06 Man dies after scoffing poisonous toad eggs
Hanoi: A 25-year-old Vietnamese man died after a meal of toad meat and eggs turned out to be poisonous, a health official said on Wednesday.
Ho Van Chien fell over soon after eating the toad dish on his way home from farming last Sunday in central Quang Nam province, said Le Thi Bich Kim, a nurse in the local health centre.
"He was deathly pale and unconscious when his family brought him to the nurse's office," Kim said. The man died within hours.
Chien had shared a grilled toad with his two-year-old daughter, La, who was also in hospital with less severe symptoms.
The health official said eating frogs and toads is common practice among local villagers, who believe the meat is a good source of protein for malnourished children and even make dried cakes out of toads for long journeys.
However, many villagers cannot tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous toads and do not know that eggs and glands from the creatures can carry venom meant to discourage predators, she said.
"This man often ate toads," Kim said.
"He did it even two days ago, but this time, he ate the toad's eggs too." - Sapa-dpa
Man dies after scoffing poisonous toad eggs