A Thai dish which is so common in the northeastern province of Isaan, has such severe carcinogenic properties that a single bite can cause canc3r.
The dish may be responsible for a public health crisis, claiming up to 20,000 lives annually.
This raw fish dish has paid the urgent attention of health professionals, particularly Dr. Narong Khuntikeo, a liver surgeon who lost both parents to liver canc3r linked to the dish.
According to the Guardian, Dr. Khuntikeo has embarked on a mission to raise awareness of the health risks posed by koi pla, a dish rooted in tradition but laced with danger.
His campaign is focused on war:ning villagers about the risk of bile duct canc3r, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, caused by parasites in the dish.
Eventhough the meal is beloved and widely consumed, the raw fish often carries parasitic flatworms known as liver flukes.
Testing has reported a significant level of parasite exposure: in some villages, as much as 80% of residents have ingested liver flukes.
In one village screening, a third of the tested individuals exhibited liver abnormalities, with some found to have early-stage canc3r.
Koi pla is deeply rooted in local culture, and the practice of eating raw fish is handed down through generations.
