PUFFERFISH (Fugu)
A DEADLY DELICACY
This Unique Fish Dish is Not Only Very Rare...
It Can Also Kill You!
Like many fish, pufferfish (also known as Fugu) have been around for a very long time. In fact, Pufferfish have been swimming the oceans and even freshwater rivers for 100 million years. These particular fish are highly adaptable and have survived extreme environmental changes. Pufferfish are found in a variety of habitats, including coral reefs, estuaries, and, of course, the oceans. Some even have made their homes in freshwater rivers in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Pufferfish, also known as Blowfish, can inflate into a ball shape to evade predators. They do this by pumping water and sometimes air into their stomachs, which makes them several times their actual size.
Even though the fish are extremely deadly to consume, people have been eating them for thousands of years. Why? Well, many people consider these unusual fish to be an absolute delicacy, regardless that eating them can cause severe headache and stomachache, difficulty in breathing, severe chest pain, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias... and death.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, chief Imperial minister, banned fugu consumption during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600) because of the number of poisonings. The ban was finally lifted in 1888 after the Japanese Prime Minister survived eating a small sample.
So the question becomes, can Pufferfish or fugu be prepared for safe eating today? The short answer is yes; specially trained chefs can prepare fugu for safe eating by removing the toxic liver, gonads, and skin. However, much care must be taken in preparation so that diners can be safe. Even a small mistake in preparing fugu can result in death.
Yet, in Japan Fugu is considered a delicacy.
NEED TO KNOW FACTS ABOUT
PUFFERFISH & FUGU
Approximately 100 people die every year from consuming Pufferfish.
Often, victims have been fishermen who have attempted to prepare their catch for eating.
Pufferfish can change color to match their surroundings.
Pufferfish can move their eyes independently, allowing them to see predators from different directions.
As pufferfish mature, their front teeth fuse together to form a beak-like structure.
Baby tiger pufferfish eat their siblings after they grow their first teeth.
Fugu is often sliced very thin and arranged to resemble chrysanthemum petals.
A single serving of fugu (pufferfish) can cost between $20 and $100 per person. This is not a meal, just a serving.