Illinois Man Busted With Puffer Fish Toxin

Office coffee caused fainting, dizziness, ringing in the ears

(NEWSER) - Harvard Medical School is investigating after six workers in the pathology department were poisoned by coffee prepared near their lab. The researchers and students were treated and released after suffering dizziness, low blood pressure, and other symptoms during the August incident. "As the investigation continues, we are being prudent and taking additional precautionary measures to ensure the well-being of our community," reads an internal memo explaining stepped-up security and leaked to the Boston Herald. More»

(NEWSER) - Botox will now carry the Food and Drug Administration’s strictest warning for pharmaceuticals after the agency raised concerns over the risk of botulism last year, Bloomberg reports. The approval of a rival botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes prompted the review. The toxin can cause muscle weakness and breathing difficulty, particularly in non-approved applications for muscle spasms. Botox-maker Allergan’s shares fell 3% on the news. More»

Man after puffer fish poison was seeking hit man

(NEWSER) - An Illinois man busted trying to buy enough puffer fish toxin to kill dozens of people had been seeking to hire a hit man on the internet to kill a mystery woman, reports the Chicago Tribune. The financial planner sent emails to people offering $8,000 for the murder, authorities said. He was arrested yesterday when police found six empty vials of the deadly puffer fish neurotoxin in his home. More»

Fugu liver can now be safe, but traditionalists don't want it served

(NEWSER) - One of Japan's prized delicacies is having an identity crisis: fugu, the pricey puffer fish that's poisonous unless prepared correctly, now has a farmed cousin that's harmless, the New York Times reports. But gourmands looking forward to eating fugu liver—the most delicious and potentially deadly part of the fish—are being thwarted by the fugu industry, which is fighting to keep a ban on the livers, even from detoxed variety. More»

FBI questioning 57-year-old about toxin found in Las Vegas hotel room

(NEWSER) - The man at the center of the Las Vegas ricin investigation regained consciousness today, although he remains hospitalized in critical condition, the Associated Press reports. Roger Bergendorff, 57, had been in a coma since Feb. 14; he has already been questioned by FBI agents about the toxin—considered a "biological weapon"—found in his hotel room. More»