This Feb. 1, 2016 photo provided by Val Kreil, shows jars of seal oil served during a potluck at a nursing home in Kotzebue, Alaska. The Alaska Native organization that operates the home is hoping to regularly serve its nursing home residents the nutrient-rich oil, a traditional staple that's banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism if not properly processed. (Val Kreil via AP)

This Feb. 1, 2016 photo provided by Val Kreil, shows jars of seal oil served during a potluck at a nursing home in Kotzebue, Alaska. The Alaska Native organization that operates the home is hoping to regularly serve its nursing home residents the nutrient-rich oil, a traditional staple that's banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism if not properly processed. (Val Kreil via AP)

Alaska nursing home asks to serve seal oil to Native clients

  • By Rachel D'oro
  • Monday, March 28, 2016 9:36pm
  • News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska regulators are working with an Alaska Native organization that wants to serve its nursing home residents nutrient-rich seal oil, a traditional staple that’s banned in public settings because of its high risk for botulism if not properly processed.

Lorinda Lhotka with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, said the agency would grant an exemption to the Kotzebue-based Maniilaq Association if it can demonstrate a safe method for rendering the oil, which can taste like a heavy, if slightly fishy, olive oil when fresh.

It’s used like a dipping sauce in Native households across the state.

“We know that it’s a really healthy food, but there’s also some hazards associated with it if it’s not prepared safely,” said Lhotka, a member of an unofficial task force looking at ways to make seal oil legally available.

Alaska consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for rates of foodborne botulism.

The numbers vary widely, but generally range between zero and as many as 15 people affected each year.

Deaths, however, are rare, occurring in Alaska only twice in the last 10 years, according to Louisa Castrodale, a state epidemiologist.

Botulism can lead to temporary paralysis, with complications arising if breathing muscles are affected, Castrodale said.

Maniilaq, a regional tribal health care nonprofit based in Kotzebue, hopes it can add seal oil to the list of traditional foods that can legally be donated to facilities such as its Kotzebue nursing home, which serves elderly Inupiat Eskimos.

The organization, like other tribal entities in the state, has also recently begun to incorporate other traditional foods on the menu.

For its seal oil quest, Maniilaq has teamed up with University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers, as well as University of Wisconsin botulism expert Eric Johnson, to assess the oil rendering process at its new Kotzebue processing plant for traditional foods. The researchers first will accompany a Maniilaq official on a seal hunt in June, according to nursing home administrator Val Kreil.

For now, Kreil is holding off on telling the nursing home residents about the possibility of serving them the oil from the marine mammals.

But he joked that people would be so happy if Maniilaq got the go-ahead to serve it that they would build a statue of him in town.

“It’s part of their diet,” Kreil said. “It’s like butter.”

Johnson said his role in Maniilaq’s endeavor is to assess and, he hopes, justify the process involved in preparing the seal oil for consumption.

Johnson said he is donating his expertise and his federally-approved laboratory, so he expects to ship some samples to Wisconsin.

“It’s an interesting project,” he said. “I’ve worked on botulism for over 30 years, so I’m intrigued.”

More in News

The Homer Spit is evacuated during the July 28 tsunami warning at about 10:50 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Tsunami warning test scheduled for Wednesday morning

The National Weather Service will conduct a statewide test of the tsunami… Continue reading

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Soldotna designates field house funds

Construction of a field house in Soldotna took a step forward last… Continue reading

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Carpenter, Ruffridge target state finances

The central Kenai Peninsula’s representatives in the Alaska House of Representatives have… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19: Local cases fall after last week’s spike

After a spike of 50 new COVID-19 cases was reported in the… Continue reading

A tripod set by the Soldotna and Kenai Rotary Clubs stands over the ice of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Local Rotary Clubs testing new contest for next winter

The Rotary Clubs of Soldotna and Kenai are performing a test in… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.
State Trooper convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a minor

Vance Peronto, formerly an Alaska State Trooper based in Soldotna, was convicted… Continue reading

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna moves ahead with staff recruitment strategies

Soldotna City Council members last week gave city administration a thumbs up… Continue reading

State representatives Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, and Andi Story, D-Juneau, offering competing amendments to a bill increasing the per-student funding formula for public schools by $1,250 during a House Education Committee meeting Wednesday morning. McKay’s proposal to lower the increase to $150 was defeated. Story’s proposal to implement an increase during the next two years was approved, after her proposed amounts totalling about $1,500 were reduced to $800.
Borough, Soldotna call on Legislature to increase school funding

The City of Soldotna last week became the latest entity to call… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Nils Wallstrom celebrates winning a shootout over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears sweep Ice Dogs, move into 3rd place

The Kenai River Brown Bears earned a two-game sweep over the Fairbanks… Continue reading

Most Read