Death or Delicacy: The Notorious Fugu Puffer Fish

Ever encounter a brush with death? Well eating a fugu puffer fish, a delicacy in Japan and other parts of Asia can result in death.

While puffer fish consumption in Japan is highly regulated and organized, amateurs filleting it at home will most likely die. This fugu puffer fish is packed with lethal tetrodotoxin, but it does not caution against its popular consumption as sashimi, soups, and hotpot amongst other methods.

The logistics and preparation behind the fish

A dish with this much risk no doubt costs a pretty penny. Chefs around Japan must be certified to prepare and cook this delicacy. The certification period can last anywhere from two to three years and the process is vigorous, as one slip of the knife can unleash the poison onto the fish’s edible meat. The certificate is issued by the regional governor once the chef is certified, so patrons can rest assure, they are safe!

Chef Nakase of Gempin Fugu located in Tokyo Japan claims that when attending a restaurant with a certified chef, the fugu pufferfish exhibits no harm and is 100% safe to consume. He claims that most deaths in Japan are due to inexperienced fishermen who want to try it for themselves and do not have the knowledge on how to fillet the fish. As shown on a video by the “Best Ever Food Review Show”, all the organs and the femur bone must be removed carefully when preparing the fish. If any remnants of the tetrodotoxin remain on the meat, the poison will inevitably lead to death.

Chef Nakase in this same video demonstrates how the tetrodotoxin takes over the muscles in your body, which results in paralysis and eventually death. So, when dealing with the preparation of the fugu fish, you want to leave the filleting to the experts. Why do amateurs attempt to do it themselves?  The only viable answer is they do not want to pay the heavy price for this delicious fish.

 A brush with death

Despite the warning to steer away from the fugu liver as it’s poison can be deadly; a fair share of people has died since the 1950’s. In 1958 the numbers peaked at 176 deaths resulting from eating the liver as it is said to be very delicious but poisonous. In late 17th century Japan Fugu organs were often used by individuals to take their own lives.

Recently two incidents happened in 2011 and 2015 with fugu liver. Two different chefs went against the law to serve customers the liver as they specifically asked for it. Nobody died as the liver is not as poisonous, but they had to be rushed to hospital and were in critical condition before making a full recovery.  Both chefs lost the privileges to serve it, and it is against Japanese law to do so.

 Is fugu puffer worth it?

The fugu puffer fish is the most common species eaten in Japan. Often the price for a whole fish can fetch prices of $100 USD and in some cases even more depending on the weight and the gender, as the male genitals are said to be very delicious.

Moreover, is trying the pufferfish as your next meal worth the price? Well according to Sonny from “Best Food”, he says: “the texture of the sashimi resembles squid expect it leaves a sort of freshness” and he exclaimed how the hotpot with the chef’s best cuts was: “robust and fatty, I could see why someone can risk their lives to eat this”.

In result, depending on how adventurous you are with food and if you are looking to be dangerous, trying pufferfish might be the move for you! Of course, make sure the person preparing it knows what he is doing and caution against trying to fillet it yourself. If you ever find yourself in Japan visit a reputable restaurant and dig in as the fish is a cultural icon and a local delicacy.

What is the most exotic food that you have ever eaten? Are you willing to push the food envelope?