Poisonous or dangerous food is considered a special delicacy by some cultures in several parts of the world. In most cases, a nice feast may turn into a deadly game of Russian roulette.
So, would you take the risks of eating these deadly delicacies?
"Fugu" or Pufferfish
This goes on top of my list as the world's deadliest delicacy. Even a drop of toxin from a Pufferfish or Fugu (in Japanese) can immediately leave you paralyzed, followed by death.
Fugu is considered an authentic Japanese delicacy and it would take years for a chef to master the art of preparing the dish. The toxin, called tetrodotoxin is concentrated in the roe, ovaries and the liver of the fish.
A slight error during the removal of the toxic parts can allow the toxin to contaminate the entire flesh of the fish. Despite the risk of eating Fugu, it is reported that yearly, there are dozens of death from Fugu poisoning in Japan.
"San Nak Ji" or Live Octopus
“San Nak Ji” or live octopus is a popular delicacy in Korea and Japan. The enjoyment of eating this food is when the octopus is still moving with the tentacles sticking to the roof of the mouth. The challenge is to munch and swallow the live octopus without choking. It is reported that there are on average of 6 deaths due to choking (on live octopus), each year in South Korea.
Cassava
This is one of the world's popular staple food. Cassava is often used to make the tropical delicacy in the form of tapioca starch or flour. However, if not properly washed or cooked, cassava leaves and roots contain toxin called cyanide which is fatal to humans even in small doses.
Giant Bullfrog
Giant bullfrog is considered a delicacy in Namibia. The Namibians eat the entire giant bullfrog except for the internal organs. In most cultures, only certain body parts of the frogs such as the legs are consumed as most frogs have poisonous skin and poisonous internal organs. A premature bullfrog is said to contain a certain toxin which could lead to kidney failure in most cases.
Ackee Fruit
Ackee plant is originated from West Africa. Later, it was introduced to Florida, USA. Ackee fruit is widely used in Jamaican cuisine, which includes its national delicacy, "ackee and saltfish".
The fruit looks like a pear, red in color when it's ripe. The ackee fruit must be picked after it has naturally opened and revealed the seeds. The fruit must be eaten at the right time. The fruit is poisonous if it is both immature and overripe. The fleshy part around the seeds is the only part which is edible. The rest of the fruit contain a type of toxin called hypoglycin which can be fatal if consumed.
Silver-Stripe Blaasop
The silver-stripe blaasop is a delicacy among the locals who live in some parts of the Indian Ocean. The locals are experts in removing the toxic parts of the fish before cooking and consuming it. The poison is concentrated in the liver, reproductive organs and also the skin of the fish which can cause paralysis and breathing problems if consumed by humans.
Somehow, the silver-stripe blaasop made its way to the eastern Mediterranean waters. In early 2007, there are about 10 reported deaths relating to the poisoning of the fish which include 8 in Egypt and 2 in Israel.
Echizen Jellyfish
The giant Echizen jellyfish is a huge, poisonous jellyfish which moves in swarms in the Japan waters. The jellyfish lives on tuna fish and this poses a problem as the tuna supply is affected by the huge consumption. So, the solution is to catch the jellyfish and turn it into a delicacy.
Like “Fugu” the tricky part lies in the preparation of the dish. The toxic parts must be removed and the jellyfish must be properly cooked for safe consumption.
I love Yuca Frita ... made out of cassava root. Nice article, Sher.
#2 by rugalli, Feb 17, 2008
very interesting tht people can die of eating food?
#3 by Ruby Hawk, Feb 17, 2008
I think I will leave these foods to braver beings than I. An interesting article. Take care. Ruby
#4 by Ben, Feb 17, 2008
eating San Nak Ji = a great story. Not much of a taste but hey, who's eating it for the flavor anyway?
#5 by Aaron A., Feb 17, 2008
You forgot a couple of "Deaths by Food," my list would include the Big Mac and pretty much all other fast foods which are the cause of tens of thousands of deaths every year.
#6 by loser, Feb 17, 2008
Ive eaten a lot of fugu and never gotten sick. The toxin is in the blood of the fish. A trace amount produces a tingling on the tongue. I live in Japan and deaths related to fugu are NEVER reported in the news
#7 by Matt, Feb 17, 2008
My question is this: how many tries does it take all of these people in all of these regions of the world to figure out what's safe and what's not?
#8 by icepick314, Feb 17, 2008
i wanted to try fugu but there's no place around where i live that serves it...
guess i'll just settle on dangers of tuna and mercury....
#9 by bk, Feb 17, 2008
loser: they are reported in the news. a fugu death made headlines last month.
#10 by Wallace, Feb 17, 2008
Brooks, think before you post. Google search Fugu, and you'll find that they do look like that and that they do have poisonous livers.
#11 by Volker, Feb 17, 2008
To #7 That's a blowfish. There are many types of blowfish. The one shown looks more like the type which hide under the sand. These are found a lot around the coast of Venezuela.
#12 by hirosan, Feb 17, 2008
It is all up to the kind of jellyfish that are edible or not.
The small ones are not usually for eating but big ones are commonly served, especially in East Asian countries.
The link to the last photograph or giving a credit along the photo would be nice, since it is copywrited.
http://flickr.com/photos/hirosan/2206711838/
BTW, I love fugu. Good stuff.
#13 by Robert, Feb 17, 2008
#8 Rubarb
#14 by Joe, Feb 18, 2008
Heyyy ...Yuka (cassava) is POISONOUS ???? ...are you kidding me ...we eat it like ...everyday ... here in Latin America!!! Wow! Got me paranoid now!
#15 by colin syme, Feb 18, 2008
l am suprised that there were two deaths in Israel by eating Blaashop, (that is the correct spelling) kosher rules prohibit fish without scales! The blaashop has its uses however, if dried and hung on a piece of string it may be used as a barometer and it works,---l had one years ago.
#16 by chup, Feb 18, 2008
Wait... blaasop is Dutch/Afrikaans for "blow up" - a type of pufferfish? Meh, six deadly delicacies.
#17 by David Greiman, Feb 18, 2008
Pufferfish not only have the thorns outside and can inflate but also have poison inside. For all the effort, that fish better taste dang good.
#18 by here's another one for your list, Feb 18, 2008
"Thus, the sale of tempeh bongkrèk is prohibited by law nowadays; clandestine manufacture continues however due to the superior culinary value."
#19 by Andy-N, Feb 18, 2008
I choose to believe that broccoli and spinach are dangerous also!
Seriously this was fun to read. People do eat the craziest stuff.
#20 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Feb 18, 2008
I've eaten cassava more than a thousand times, literally.
#21 by pyrator, Feb 18, 2008
Kidney Beans - Eat em raw, they're great for putting you in hospital for a few hours ;-)
#22 by Desire Athow, Feb 18, 2008
Just eat Cassava last week, a bit off due to central heating but mighty good...
#23 by bdette, Feb 18, 2008
Does anyone remember that Simpsons episode where Homer ate the blowfish?
#24 by apollo808, Feb 18, 2008
Hey! That’s me scarfing down the San Nak Ji! Seriously, you linked to my youtube video. It went from getting 200 hits over the past 4 months to 12000 overnight. Thanks for all the hits! You have a popular blog here huh?
San Nak Ji is actually really good and supposidly good for a man’s stamina. It can be deadly too if the suction cup on the octopus’ tentacle grabs on your throat. Therefore chew thoroughly and also make sure the chef added some EVOO to the little buggers to make them nice and slippery.
No much flavor to it. The sauce I dunked it in was good. The funny part is when they stick to the plate and won\'t let go.
#25 by wtf, Feb 18, 2008
People eat living animals and think it's funny?
I'm sure the octopus thought it was wicked funny, too.
Perhaps they stick to the plate and won't let go because they're SCARED and IN PAIN....
Oh, wait, I forgot, only humans feel fear and pain.
Carry on.
#26 by mctex, Feb 18, 2008
Perhaps most of these items should not be called "food" as they were not meant to be eatten in the first place.
#27 by Tetano, Feb 18, 2008
I just hate PETA people. Yes, they are scared and they should be. Yes they feel pain. And yes, we just don´t give a flying f.. about it. Get a life, there are humans dying of hunger while you worry about pets.
#28 by keelhaul, Feb 18, 2008
I would like to take this opportunity to ask for donations for the "save the octopi" campaign.We accept love beads and weed..Hippies need only donate.p.s Does a carrot scream when you pull it from the ground???
#29 by KappaGamma, Feb 18, 2008
Bluuuuuuue Fugu!
*Crash!*
#30 by Lieron, Feb 18, 2008
Actually, you're technically not eating it alive, as it has been cut.. you're eating it just after death
#31 by Scott, Feb 18, 2008
Why isn't the Big Mag listed? With all of its fat, sodium and cholesterol it is deadlier than anything else on the list. It just takes longer.
#32 by John P , Feb 18, 2008
I want to eat it all!
#33 by rcm, Feb 18, 2008
President Bush nearly choked to death on a pretzel. I'm kinda glad he lived cuz our next Prez would've been a Dick.
#34 by carla, Feb 18, 2008
I'm really upset by the first video on this page. Skinning a live fish is one of the cruelest things I think I've ever seen, second only to eating live animals. I wish I had known what I would be seeing before starting the video.
#35 by reffa, Feb 18, 2008
carla, it's just a nasty food...come to think abt it, it can kill u...
#36 by apollo808, Feb 18, 2008
Eating a live animal is more cruel than the holocaust? genocide? murder? How about shooting a cow before he\'s butchered. Is that less cruel? And it actually tastes pretty good. Are you a vegan? How do you know plants don\'t feel pain or have a soul?
The San Nak Ji deaths only occur when people don\'t chew it properly. Usually intoxicated men who drank far too much soju.
#37 by tech42er, Feb 18, 2008
Apollo, is the octopus whole? Or do they cut it up and the tentacles continue moving, even though it's dead?
And carla, are you sure the "fugu" is alive when it's being prepared?
#38 by Matt the Rat, Feb 18, 2008
Gee whiz... how come nobody mentioned natto? Talk about vile.
Smells like paint drying on the wall. Won't actually kill you though, just nasty to eat. Kids in Japan love it. My kid loves. i leave the room every I smell it.
#39 by Blaas, Feb 19, 2008
Agree with "#16 by chup" the list is only 6. Blaasop is a type of puffer fish. Same thing different language. I mean just look at the effects it has. Both have the poisons in the liver and reproductive organs.
#40 by act-on, Feb 19, 2008
colin syme said "I am suprised that there were two deaths in Israel by eating Blaashop, (that is the correct spelling) kosher rules prohibit fish without scales!"
Yeah, because we all know that everyone in Israel is Jewish...
#41 by Sara, Feb 19, 2008
About the Israeli/Kosher issue... unfortunately, not every Jew keeps Kosher and many restaurants, especially in Tel Aviv, serve pork and seafood and a mixture of meat and dairy... I think the only thing Kosher on this list is cassava root.
#42 by apollo808, Feb 19, 2008
tech42er - Yeah it's chopped up. Basically they catch them from the ocean. Put them in a fish tank in the restaurant. Grab one. It spews ink everywhere so they wash it off. Then they cut it up into delicious bite sized morsels. Then squirt some Extra Virgin olive oil on it and sprinkle on some sesame seeds. Then serve. Dip it in sauce, chew it thoroughly (until it stops grabbing your teeth, tongue, cheeks and roof of your mouth) and swallow!
#43 by Ratz, Feb 19, 2008
Ok, so don't judge a culture that you weren't raised into, but damn, surely we can all agree on "cutting up things whilst they're still alive" is pretty messed up. That poor fish had its fins, lips, skin and eyes cut off all whilst it was gasping for air. Ok, it may have lasted only a minute or two, but I'm sure it felt like longer!
#44 by apollo808, Feb 19, 2008
Or force feeding baby cows while you keep them in a small box is better? Or injecting massive amounts of hormones into chickens to make their breasts and thighs huge is ok? Or cutting off a chickens mouth so they can't hurt each other is better? Or cramming the fish into a hold so they slowly suffocate? How about shooting a deer and then having it run away until it slowly bleeds to death?
Ratz - I love meat as much if not more than the next guy, but you have to realize nothing about meat (or animal products) should be considered humane. It's just too bad it has to be so damn delicious.
#45 by Mortal Light, Feb 19, 2008
I think it's funny that cassava and ackee are on this list; I eat them all the time and never really thought of them as dangerous.
#46 by scruffythejanitor, Feb 20, 2008
You didn't mention Barracuda. It has a nerve toxin that can kill you.
#47 by VikingB, Feb 20, 2008
Ok, here is what I want to know. Who is the guy that after watching his friend die from eating an entire Fugu thought, "Hmm maybe if I didn't eat the liver......."
#48 by ranfuchs, Feb 20, 2008
I just love fugu
#49 by Alexa Gates, Feb 20, 2008
yikes! i wonder why they would make food that could kill you...
#50 by CK, Feb 20, 2008
Hehe I am reading this article, watching the vids while I eat my lunch. Thanks for the vid Apollo808, so gross I almost threw up! Ok not really, but I did have to stop eating and that's a hard task to accomplish with me! Do you live in Japan? Have you ever seen one of those Japanese hornets? Those things scare the bejeezees out of me!
Ratz - I'm not sure that fish was still alive or not but it was kind of disturbing watching the body heaving while being cut up. If you've ever been to some of the Asian supermarkets in my area though, this is not an uncommon sight. They take it live out of the water, start bashing it with a mallet, and then cut it all up while you watch.
#51 by a fool, Feb 20, 2008
First of all there are two types of cassava..
there is sweet cassava which is not poisonous
and eaten like a potato, then there is bitter
cassava, which poisonous and out of which we
make flour.
The 'trick' with cassava, and how it
was done in the days of the Taino...
(and how I've done it)
Grater Cassava into large flat pan.
Fill with water.
Put on housetop over night.
In morning, pour off water.
Wash again with fresh water
put back on housetop.
Wash again in the evening, on the
housetop over night, drain, and
then let dry and use.
It's really nice flour and we make
something called 'bammie out of it.'
With ackee you have to let it open naturally,
yes, but then you take the yellow fruit, and
you open it up and wash out the pink inside
of the fruit. That is poisonous.
I agree with Aaron A---
also puffer fish...you don't want to smell
that when it's dead.
Fishermen toss them all the time and my idiot
dogs think it is very funny to somehow get
the dead fish in front of my door.
#52 by cosmette, Feb 20, 2008
Apolo go eat a live goat and then EF yourself. I\'m with WTF, CARLA, and RATZ. That first video is going to make me sick for a long time. I didn\'t even watch the other video for fear of what I might see that would be burned in my memory forever. And yes it is more humane to shoot a cow before you eat it. Wouldn\'t you prefer to be shot before being all cut up and skinned? Oh and thank you to everyone for bringing up the carrot issue; I will now shoot each one of my vegetables before I consume it.
#53 by LoLz, Feb 20, 2008
Curiosity often leads to something.. in these cases, it may lead to death... Well if you choose to eat it, then what ever happens, it was your own choice.
#54 by lulz?, Feb 20, 2008
If you don't like the idea of eating fish that were diced in the kitchen minutes before you were served, don't eat at the freshest seafood stores you'll ever find --sushi shops.
#55 by Porg, Feb 21, 2008
The Octopus catches and eats fish and prey live so why should it get better treatment?
#56 by scientist, Feb 21, 2008
Just a clarification for the "cassava". This plant species has a lot of cultivarietals and some of them are not high in cyanide, in particular the ones you commonly eat. Some varieties in the Amazon basin do have high levels of cyanide, but people get rid of it by grinding the tubercle, adding water, and then evaporating the water -with the cyanide-. Then it is ready to eat. So, it is pretty safe...no more dangerous than a potato.
#57 by jimmy dikes, Feb 21, 2008
Whoa!
#58 by at least it\'s not goat, Feb 21, 2008
to porg:
the reason that it should get better treatment is because you\'re capable of killing it before you eat it, while the octopus dosen\'t really have knives and poky things to use to kill it\'s prey before it eats it. besides, eating something while it\'s still alive is kinda gross, and not very logical(you\'d think it would be easier to eat something AFTER it was dead...).
and to VikingB... i bet it was some desperate poor starving man who found a puffer, split it with his friend (also a desperate starving man)and when his starving friend dropped dead realized... \"hmm, he had a liver, i didn\'t. must be in the liver!\", though why he\'d go catch another one to test his theory, even if he was starving.....
#59 by CK, Feb 21, 2008
Hey,
CK - I'm over in South Korea right now. Sorry for the gross out factor, but I had to get that on tape. I never thought all you people would be watching it.
Cosmette - The second video is me eating octopus that is cut up but still moving. I think it's very hypocritical of you to attack one way of eating while defending another. So starving fish of oxygen and letting them slowly suffocate is better than chopping its head off first? (which is what the chef did in the video)
As for eating a live goat, I don't think I would do that over health concerns. I know beef you can eat raw (tar-tar) but I'm not sure about goat. In some tribes they stab a cow or goat in the throat and then drink the blood squirting out of the neck. So if given the opportunity I would probably try it once. If its safe and tastes good, I would do it again. Freshly killed still moving octopus is very clean and actually tastes good.
Porg - The octopus is dead. It's been chopped up into little pieces (that still move - like when you cut a worm in half when you go fishing) The blowfish is also dead. I'm pretty sure when he chopped his head off that it died immediately.
To Everyone - Although the fish and octopus are still moving, they are dead. The fish had its head chopped off (instant death) the octopus was cut up into 25 small pieces (instant death) What's the problem? The problem is people trying to force their culture onto others. What you might find acceptable in your family and culture is not what everyone thinks. Expand your mind people.....and your palate!
#60 by apollo808, Feb 21, 2008
CK - I wrote your name as my name above! Sorry. haha
#61 by Joe Power, Feb 21, 2008
What wine goes with that?
#62 by intan, Feb 21, 2008
yup, i agree with the apollo 808. it\'s about culture. in china people even eat monkey brain while the monkey is still alive-they just get it drugged-
and i know that muscles and nerves probably still active seconds after death, thats why the fish and octopus are still moving-but dead.
#63 by Tarra B., Feb 22, 2008
great articles are determined by the spark of discussion, excellent job!
#64 by ironman, Feb 22, 2008
I love Ackee. Ackee saltfish and bakes. mmmm you cannot beat it. for those who are unaware when prepared ackee has the colour, consistency, and look of scrambled eggs. The taste is very different though. It is a slightly bitter nutty taste that it not in the least bit powerful. The strange thing about Ackee is that though it has a muted taste you can really taste it when coupled with saltfish even though the saltfish has a very powerful taste
#65 by Liane Schmidt, Feb 24, 2008
What an amazing, incredibly well done article. The more you learn the less you know... wow...
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
#66 by Nic, Feb 27, 2008
Yeah, I'm with Carla and Ratz. Too much is too much.
To CK, from what I can see in that 1st video, only the fish's face was cut off, nearly all of its brain was still intact, hence the convulsive breathing and movement. In my (albeit small and under-read) book suffering= bad taste. I don't agree with the meat-processing industry in the west, but there's no excuse for the treatment of that fish. Tasty or not.
As you were.
#67 by Kevin, Feb 28, 2008
In the case of the fastfood, wouldn\'t it be more of the fact that it is consistently dined upon which causes those problems? I\'m sure if you made hamburgers every weekend in your backyard and named them Mikes Grilled sandwiches, only to die later from heart disease, I\'m sure you would find another reason amiright?
#68 by LW, Mar 2, 2008
All I saw in the first video was art. I'm with apollo808, you guys seem awfully averse to other cultures' way of dining. Along with the monkey brain comment from before - I've also seen a live fish served with boiling oil poured over it's middle so that both its head and tail were still moving when it was served with its insides fried.
That\'s Cantonese cuisine for you; we're a fun bunch. To the rest of you non-foodies - chillax, this stuff isn't for you. Stick to your celery.
#69 by Bob, Mar 2, 2008
Haha, lot's of controversy on this one...I think it's a great article and that the videos are just fine, I think if you have a problem with how animals are treated than you should pay more attention to how humans are treated in some places. So all you "Animal rights" people can just go screw yourselves.
#70 by Johasua, Mar 5, 2008
wow that is amazing
#71 by CHAN LEE PENG, Mar 9, 2008
Good post, thanks!
#72 by Rob, Mar 20, 2008
All I can say is: If God didn't mean for us to eat the animals, why did He make them out of meat?
#73 by hehe, Mar 25, 2008
yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#74 by mel, May 8, 2008
I wasn\'t surprised by the 1st video at all.
Well, I grew up in Asia and has watched six frogs getting skinned alive at a frog farm before. It\'s pretty similar to the fugu skinning.
I don\'t understand why people make such a big deal about eating it but are fine when it comes to beef, poultry etc.
