Fugu - The pufferfish 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 pufferfish, can be very dangerous because of the poison found in its body. It contains lethal amounts of poisonous tetrodotoxin in its internal organs, mainly in the eyes, skin, and liver. Therefore, it must be carefully prepared to remove these toxic parts and not contaminate the meat.

During certain periods in Japanese history, the delicacy was prohibited. And even today, it is the only dish that 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 part with the most poison from the pufferfish.

Such poison blocks sodium channels, paralyzing the muscles while the victim remains conscious. The poisoned person is unable to breathe, dying from asphyxiation. The meat of fugu is truly delicious, without fat, with no strong taste, and of a unique whiteness, which makes this dish famous and controversial.

Preparation and consumption of fugu

The law in Japan strictly controls the preparation of this fish in restaurants. Only chefs who qualify after three or more years of training are allowed to prepare it. It requires a lot of skill to remove the poisonous parts of the fish without contaminating the entire meat. There is so much poison in the liver that the chef cannot legally throw it in regular trash. After removal, the organ must be placed in a closed and isolated compartment. A specialized company collects the livers and incinerates them.

Only after these processes and thoroughly washing the meat does the chef begin to prepare it. Fugu is mainly served with sashimi and chirinabe. But it can also be served in salads, as grilled meat, and even cooked. The interesting thing is that the chef cannot completely eliminate the toxin, but can only reduce it. Customers experience effects such as euphoria and tingling sensations. Even so, the fish’s meat is said to have a mild and delicate flavor. Dishes usually cost between 2,000 and 5,000 yen.

Curiosities about the pufferfish dish

• Between 1996 and 2006, there were 30 reported poisonings from Fugu in Japan. Most of the victims were fishermen who did not prepare it correctly;
• The fish is considered the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world, coming only after a frog found mainly in Colombia;
• There is no antidote for pufferfish poison;
• The poisonous substance is not produced by the pufferfish, but by bacteria that reside in the fish;
• Only two grams of pufferfish poison can kill a person;
• Some pufferfish can live in both fresh and saltwater;
• The total amount of poison found in a single fish can fatally affect up to 30 people;
• The substance of the poison is not produced by the fish themselves, but by bacteria that reside in them;

Would you have the courage to eat a dish made with fugu? Let us know in the comments and share with friends. The folks from the Crazy Science of the Himalayas had the chance to try fugu; we will leave a video of the experience below:

• Sushi – curiosities about this Japanese food
• Nori – Everything about the famous seaweed used in sushi

Embedded video (YouTube)