Would you have the courage to eat a fish that, if not prepared correctly, could kill you? The fish fugu, also known as baiacu, can be very dangerous because of the poison found in its body. It contains lethal amounts of poisonous tetrodotoxin in its internal organs, especially in the eyes, skin, and liver. So it must be carefully prepared to remove these toxic parts and not contaminate the meat.
In certain periods of Japanese history, the spice was prohibited. And even today, it is the only dish that the imperador japanese cannot eat, for his safety. Even though the liver is considered one of the tastiest parts, it was banned from restaurants in 1984, for being the part with the most poison from the baiacu.
Such poison blocks sodium channels, paralyzing the muscles while the victim remains conscious. The poisoned person is rendered unable to breathe, dying of asphyxiation. The flesh of fugu is truly delicious, without fat, lacking a strong taste, and with an unparalleled whiteness, which makes this dish famous and controversial.
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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 takes 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 dispose of it in regular waste. After removal, the organ must be placed in a sealed and isolated compartment. A specialized company collects the livers and incinerates.
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, like churrasquinho and even boiled. 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 5000 yen.
Facts about the puffer fish dish
- Between 1996 and 2006, 30 Fugu poisonings were reported in Japan. The majority of the victims were fishermen, who did not prepare it 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 pufferfish 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 affecting 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:
