Fugu fish soup leads to mass poisoning in Far East

RT ^ | 06 October, 2010

[nickcarraway]

Hospitals in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok have seen an influx of patients with a rare form of fish poisoning. Several people have died.

The culprit is the fugu fish – a traditional and popular Japanese delicacy.

The catch is you have to cook it very carefully because just one fish contains a poison capable of killing over 30 people. In Japan, only very experienced, specially trained cooks are allowed to dress fugu.

Fugu fish are not usually found off Vladivostok, but the warm summer saw their numbers grow.

Hungry anglers took it upon themselves to make what they thought would be a tasty fish soup.

There are more than 20 types of fugu, but it takes an expert eye to know which ones will not leave you clutching your stomach, or even worse.

[domenad]

“A Taste of Death”, the Japanese call it. The flesh of the fish contains just enough toxin to make the tongue and lips tingle and go numb. Puncture the liver though, and you have a deadly fish.

[SIDENET]

Hospitals in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok have seen an influx of patients with a rare form of fish poisoning. Several people have died. The culprit is the fugu fish – a traditional and popular Japanese delicacy.

In Russia, fish catches YOU.

[theDentist]

Gotta get my fugu on.

As I recall, the first indication your fugu has been improperly prepared is a pins and needles feeling in your fingers and toes. But when it HAS been properly prepared, you'll know because you'll get a pins and needles feeling in your fingers and toes.

[LifeChoice]

mmmmm, yeah. Just the kind of eating experience I like. Numb tingling.

Jeeze...there are drugs for that.

[SIDENET]

[SIDENET]

"I'll have the fish."

-Airplane!

[mrmeyer]

This reminds me of the Simpsons episode. Poison, poison, poison...ah tasty fish!.

[Lurker]

Fugu contains a neurotoxin which is not deactivated by heat. So it doesn’t really matter how long you cook it, it’s still lethal.

[BWDog]

Fugu fish are not usually found off Vladivostok, but the warm summer saw their numbers grow.

Obviously those who died are going to be included in the "Victims of Global Warming/Climate Change" category.../s

[theDentist]

it’s still lethal.

And makes a great Christmas Gift!

[kromike]

This reminds me of the Simpsons episode. Poison, poison, poison...ah tasty fish!.

LOL...that was my reaction.

Homer: "Fugu Me!"

[AU72]

Isn't the liver the culprit.

The real connoisseurs go to chefs that leaves just enough toxin in to give you a mild tingle.

[OneBob]

I’m always amazed that somehwere along the line, someone, somehow, figured out how to eat these without dying!!
How many people died along the way?

[Vigilanteman]

I lived in Japan 14 years and was offered fugu on numerous occasions, the only thing which I politely declined. Nobody was offended when I gave them my reason: “Can anyone prove the chef wasn’t drunk when the fugu was prepared?”

[sinanju]

“Last night he and I ate fugu
Today, I help carry his coffin”

[nickcarraway]

I think there was a Columbo episode where Louis Jordan deliberately prepared fugu so as to poison someone.

[dfwgator]

“I had the lasagna.”

[The Comedian]

"Poison...poison...poison...tasty fish!"

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[sushiman]

I was treated to fugu on a couple of occasions . Taste is nothing special no matter how it is prepared . You’ve got to be a kamikaze to eat it on a regular basis .