Fugu – The puffer fish and its dangerous and deadly poison

Would you have the courage to eat a fish that if not prepared correctly could kill you? The fish fugu, also known as baiacu, it can be very dangerous because of the poison found in its body. It contains lethal amounts of poisonous tetrodotoxin in your internal organs, particularly your eyes, skin and liver. So it must be prepared carefully to remove these toxic parts and not contaminate the meat.

In certain periods of Japanese history, the spice was prohibited. And to this day it is the only dish the Japanese emperor cannot eat, for his safety. Even though the liver is considered one of the tastiest parts, it was banned from restaurants in 1984, as it is the most poisonous part of the puffer fish.

Such venom blocks sodium channels, paralyzing muscles while the victim remains conscious. The poisoned person is unable to breathe, dying from asphyxia. The meat of the fugu is really delicious, without fat, without a strong taste and with a unique whiteness, which makes this dish famous and controversial.

Fugu - the puffer fish dish that can kill

Preparation and consumption of fugu

The law in Japan strictly controls the preparation of this fish in restaurants. Only chefs who qualify after training for three or more years are allowed to prepare it. It takes a lot of skill to get the poisonous parts out of the fish without contaminating all the meat. There is so much poison in the liver that the chef cannot by law throw it in the garbage. After removal, the organ should be placed in a closed and isolated compartment. A specialized company collects the livers and incinerate.

Only after these processes and after washing the meat very well does the chef begin to prepare it. Fugu is served mainly with sashimi and chirinabe. But it can also be served in salads, like Kebab and even cooked. The interesting thing is that the chef is not able to completely eliminate the toxin, but to reduce it. Customers experience effects like euphoria and tingling sensations. Even so, the meat of the fish is said to have a mild and delicate flavor. Dishes usually cost between 2000 and 5000 yen.

Fugu - the puffer fish and its dangerous poison

Facts about the puffer fish dish

  • Between 1996 and 2006, 30 poisonings by Fugu were reported in Japan. Most of the victims are fishermen, who did not prepare them correctly;
  • The fish is considered the second most venomous vertebrate in the world, after a frog found mainly in Colombia;
  • There is no antidote for puffer fish venom;
  • The poisonous substance is not manufactured by the puffer fish, but by bacteria that are lodged in the fish;
  • Just two grams of puffer fish venom is capable of killing a person;
  • Some pufferfish can live in both fresh and salt water;
  • The total amount of poison found in a single fish is capable of fatally hitting up to 30 people;
  • The poison substance is not produced by the fish themselves, but by batteries that lodge in them;

Would you have the courage to eat a dish made with fugu? Tell us in the comments and share with friends. The staff at Ciência Maluca do Himalayan had the chance to try fugu, we will leave a video of the experience below:

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