Alvito, PaulaGago-Martínez, AnaAlvito2026-01-092026-01-092025-03-19Curr Opin Food Sci. 2025 Jun;63:101303. doi: 10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101303. Epub 2025 Mar 192214-7993http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/10671Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is considered an emerging risk of concern in several places worldwide. The risk of CP in Europe is currently being investigated, and important advantages have been achieved under two EuroCigua projects, which allowed the characterization of Caribbean Ciguatoxins as the main responsible for the contamination in the European Coastal areas investigated. Important challenges and limitations, particularly the ones related to the lack of reference materials and of relevant samples that enable to associate the contaminated fish consumption with human intoxication, are the most critical aspects hindering the progress from both analytical and toxicological perspectives. This review aims to provide an update on the most recent advances in CP in Europe on the source of the toxins involved in contamination, their toxicology and pharmacology, and their detection and characterization in order to contribute to envisioning the toxic mechanism of CP in humans.Highlights: - C-CTXs have been confirmed as responsible for CP in Europe. - N2a-MTT and Mass Spectrometry allowed the characterization of C-CTXs. - The lack of Reference Materials limits CTX characterization. - Semipurified reference materials for C-CTXs were developed under EuroCigua projects. - C-CTXs were not found in Gambierdiscus sp. from the areas of study.engCiguatera PoisoningMarine BiotoxinsSeafood PoisoningToxinas MarinhasEuropeSegurança AlimentarToxicologiajournal article10.1016/j.cofs.2025.1013032214-8000