Children in Koronadal City Rushed to Hospital After Eating Poisonous Tuba-Tuba Fruit
Thirteen children and a 44-year-old woman were brought to a hospital in Koronadal City, South Cotabato after eating the fruit of a tuba-tuba plant, which a child reportedly saw being eaten in a YouTube video.
The incident happened on Monday night, October 26, 2026, in Sitio Kolondafok, Barangay Topland. According to Inquirer.net, the children suffered vomiting, dizziness and stomach pain several hours after eating the fruit, locally known as “kasla.” They were taken to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital for treatment.
Barangay Topland chairperson Terrence Jay Ehimplar said the children allegedly decided to eat the fruit after watching a YouTube channel that featured people eating it.
Pamela Laseb, the mother of one of the children, told GMA News that a child claimed the fruit was edible because it was shown on YouTube. The fruit was reportedly peeled first before it was shared with playmates. “The one who picked the kasla ate the most. That child was the one who was most affected,” she said in Filipino.
Based on a report by Bombo Radyo Koronadal, the child who gathered the seeds was eight years old. Some of those who ate it also felt a burning sensation in the throat.
Rolly Aquino, chief of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the victims were treated for food poisoning and given intravenous fluids. “They did not know that tuba-tuba fruits are not edible. Its leaves have medicinal value, but its fruits are not edible,” he said, as quoted by Philstar.com.
All 14 patients have since been discharged and are recovering at home. The office of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo will also provide them with relief supplies.
Tuba-tuba, or Jatropha curcas, is common in the Philippines. Dr. Lillian Rodriguez of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology explained that its seeds contain toxic substances called curcin and phorbol esters. She warned that the fruit can be lethal if eaten in large amounts, especially for children.
The Koronadal City Health Office reminded the public not to copy what they see on social media, especially when it involves eating unfamiliar plants or seeds. Parents are also urged to closely monitor the videos their children watch online.
