10-year-old girl in Japan becomes youngest person certified to prepare poisonous pufferfish — a delicacy that can be deadly
A 10-year-old girl in Japan has recently made headlines for becoming the youngest person ever certified to prepare poisonous pufferfish, also known as fugu, a delicacy that can be deadly if not handled properly. The fact that someone so young is now qualified to slice and gut this notoriously toxic fish raises questions and concerns about the risks involved in handling such a dangerous ingredient, especially when served raw at high-end restaurants in Japan.
Fugu contains tetrodotoxin, a poison more lethal than cyanide, primarily found in its organs such as the liver, ovaries, eyes, and skin. Consuming fugu with these organs not properly removed can lead to paralysis of the muscles, leaving the victim fully conscious but unable to breathe, eventually resulting in death from asphyxiation.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker