Newcomers to the Island who saw this week's story about two dozen deaths from eating cassava in the Philippines need not be alarmed ? one of Bermuda's favourite dishes is not going to do you in.

Government Chief Medical Officer John Cann said he believed most Bermudians were aware cassava had to be carefully handled.

He spoke after at least 25 elementary school children died and close to 80 people were hospitalised after eating fried cassava balls in a remote village on Bohol island in the central Philippines.

According to Reuters, the victims fell ill about a half hour after eating the cassava balls, a local delicacy, and suffered vomiting and stomach aches. Seven children did not reach the hospital alive.

It's thought the children were poisoned by the cassava because the root crop, if not properly cooked, may contain cyanide.

Bermudians love their cassava pie, but Dr. Cann said there was no risk here as people knew the dangers.

"In the olden days Bermudians, if they grew it, grated it and rung it out to get rid of the poisonous material."

But nowadays most people bought it pre-processed and it was no risk said Dr. Cann.

He said the chances of somebody doing it the old fashioned way and not being aware of the dangers was remote.

He said: "No one not familiar with it would venture into it.

"It's a thick heavy root. It has to be grated and soaked. It's not a simple process."