Even though fugu is very poplar in Osaka, Tokyo is the nation's largest consumption center of the fish.The word “fugu” is made of two Chinese characters meaning “river” and “pig.”

The best fugu is said to some from Shimonoseki. The fish of choice in Japan is “torafugu”, a species that is found in Japanese waters. Blowfish is also known as puffer fish and globefish. Fugu is considered a winter delicacy, typically eaten in December and January.

There are 80,000 fugu chefs in Osaka alone. The best fugu chefs leave in just enough poison so it tingles the lips and gives one a tastes of the fragility of life.ĭespite all this fugu is popular dish. The methods for removing the poison from the liver are not always reliable. The most dangerous part of the fish is the liver, which Japanese say is also near the tastiest meat. Migaki fugu refers to fugu that has had its poisonous parts removed. There are more than 120 species of puffer fish with differing poison capacity. It is one of the most toxic substances known, hundreds of times more poisonous than strychnine or cyanide and so deadly that just of trace of it can kill an adult man in minutes. A powerful poison is found in the fugu's ovaries, kidneys, skin, eyes, liver and intestines. The 2 suspects will be charged with violating the Ministry of Public Health's order on dangerous foods, and face 6 months to 2 years of imprisonment, and a fine of 5,000-20,000 baht.Eating “fugu”, Japanese puffer fish, has been called the gastronomic equivalent of playing Russian roulette. The 2 suspects alleged that they were not attempting to sell the puffer fish but were merely transporting them to a animal food processing factory in the province. The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, of Chulalongkorn University, reports 130 patients who suffered from puffer fish poisoning this year, with 15 confirmed fatalities. Wisut revealed that only two milligrams of puffer fish meat can result in the death of consumers if ingested, due to the high toxicity of the species. Nattaya Jaiyen (นาตยา ใจเย็น), on charges of attempting to sell 5,000 kilograms of Puffer Fish, worth over 300,000 baht, in the muang district of Samut Songkhram province. Wisut Wanichabuth (วิสุทธิ์ วานิชบุตร), conducted a press conference to report on the arrest of Mr. The Commander of the Economic and Technological Crime Suppression Division, Pol. The Crime Suppression Division has seized over 5,000 kilograms of puffer fish destined to be sold to local restaurants in Samut Songkhram province. Eating the fish can cause paralysis, vomiting, heart failure and death.Ĭrime Suppression Division seize 5000 kg of puffer fish The fish is called fugu in Japan, where it is consumed by thrill-seeking Japanese gourmets for whom the risk of poisoning adds piquancy.Įvery year, there are reports of people dying or falling sick in Asia from eating puffer fish. Food and Drug Administration says it can 'produce rapid and violent death.' The ovaries, liver and intestines of the puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a poison so potent that the U.S.

Narin said over the past three years more than 15 people have died and about 115 were hospitalized from eating the fish. 'Some sellers dye the meat of puffer fish and make it look like salmon which is very dangerous,' Narin said. Deadly puffer fish sold as salmon kills 15, sickens 115īANGKOK: - Unscrupulous vendors in Thailand have been selling meat of the deadly puffer fish disguised as salmon, causing the deaths of more than 15 people over the past three years, a doctor said Thursday.Īlthough banned since 2002, puffer fish continues to be sold in large quantities at local markets and restaurants, said Narin Hiransuthikul of Bangkok's Chulalonkorn University Hospital.

Fugu fish death