Blowfish testicles poison diners in Japan
"The owner of the restaurant in Tsuruoka city, who is also the chef, had no licence to serve blowfish and was being questioned on suspicion of professional negligence, police official Yoshihito Iwase said.
Iwase said the seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant last night.
Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness – typical signs of blowfish poisoning – and were rushed to a hospital for treatment."
Iwase said the seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant last night.
Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness – typical signs of blowfish poisoning – and were rushed to a hospital for treatment."
That's a heavy price to pay for eating a fish that has been described as 'tasteless'. From Big in Japan:
"Although first-time consumers of fugu are surprised to discover that blowfish is rather tasteless compared to fish such as tuna or salmon, aficionados focus on the delicate texture and the elegant presentation."
I'd agree - I've had blowfish, and it wasn't really anything special; I probably should have approached it with a little more caution, though...
You'll notice that the Guardian article states that the restaurant was unlicensed, which is an important point to note... in Japan, only licensed chefs are allowed to serve fugu and the process of getting a license is quite complicated, as Wikipedia notes.
First, there's the 2-3 year apprenticeship, under a master chef, then a series of tests and examinations that are brutally difficult, followed by a final test of preparing and eating the blowfish yourself.
Apparently, only 30% of applicants pass the exam, which suggests that licensed restaurants are in good shape.
Read the Wikipedia page on blowfish, the second most poisonous animal in the world?
My Turn
Good post today I learned - Fish have testicles. I didn't know that
Light Within
How do You Express Your Creativity?
Food Leaf
Interesting article though. I'm with Sara - fish? testicles?
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I love trying new things and never say no - but seriously how many do they have to kill to get a mouth full of blowfish nuts?
Think I would skip this one and go for something bigger and more life continuing. Interesting article!