Scientists Find Toxin in Puffer Fish From Two Fla. Rivers; Poison Blamed for Sickening 13 People

ap ^ | May 18, 2002

[capt. norm]

Nobody in their right mind eats puffer fish. They have always been poisonous.

They are ugly little fish that nobody keeps anyway.

[lsee]

Maybe they thought they'd get high or something....

[KineticKitty]

Yes, because apparently licking them proved to be to harmful, so they opted to eat'em instead! :)

[nunya bidness]

Ummm pufferfish. Them're good eatin.

[reformed_democrat]

If I remember correctly, Japanese pufferfish (fugu) sashimi is what killed one of Japan's National Treasures (a kabuki actor who claimed fugu was so delicious, it was worth the risk to eat it).

The best sushi chefs who work with fugu have said it's hard to tell if the fish's liver was pierced, releasing the toxins. Therefore, fugu is an "eat at your own risk" kinda thing.

Did I get that right guys? Its been ten years since I lived there, and I wanted to be sure I wasn't mistaken.

[concerned about politics]

I had little pet puffer fish in my fish tank. Little green ones with spots.
They're killers!! They ate all the other fish in the tank! They even are a huge crud eater I had in there to keep the tank clean of algea. All I found was his skull!
They're killers, I tell ya! Little green crud eater killers!

[stainlessbanner]

That was my first thought, too: who the hell eats puffer-fish? maybe the Iron Chef has a good recipe...heh heh

[reformed_democrat]

o_p_h -- you were in Japan? Will wonders never cease! Now I know where you learned those fabulous housekeeping skills of yours.

Personally, I prefer the red tuna with a dash of soy and some green onions. (I'm making myself hungry, and there's no all-night sushi take-out in east central Illinois. Guess I'll hike down to the creek and see if the brook trout are ready yet.)

[The Electrician]

The one time that I ate fugu (in Osaka) it was delicious... Highly recommended (if you don't mind paying $200 USD for a meal)...

[krogers58]

I have sampled puffer fish in Japan, and it was absolutely delicious. As I understand it, most of the fatalities associated with it are from poorly trained "chefs" preparing them. As I understand it, in Japan, there are approximately 200 trained chefs, who undergo special licensing and training, who are legally allowed to prepare puffer. It is, though, extremely expensive.

[aruanan]

With all the other truly wonderful fish down there (even sail cats are great if filleted) in abundance, I can't fathom why anyone would be eating a puffer fish.

[John H K]

So are they ARAB pufferfish? I'm tired of the stories covering that up.

[PsyOp]

Sounds like the plot of a bad sci-fi movie. Genetically enhanced killer puffer fish escape from Navy bio-weapons lab into heavily trafficed US waterway.

Lets see... we'll get Bridget Fonda to play the whistle-blowing lab assistant; Alec Baldwin can play the politically correct investigative reporter; Martin Sheen can play the "outraged" didn't-know-a-thing president; Sheen Jr. can play the ex-Navy Seal sent to hunt the critters down.... etc., etc., etc....

[PsyOp]

Nobody in their right mind eats puffer fish. They have always been poisonous.

I've heard that it is a Japanese delicacy that has an associated macho trip. Supposedly, only the most skilled sushi chefs can filet it so that the poison does not enter the flesh of the fish (some gland or other has to be cut out). But, because this does not always work and there is no way to tell short of tasting it and living, Eating it is akin to Russian roulette and shows that you are a tough-guy.

[I'm ALL Right!]

"The paralytic shellfish toxin is not normally found in puffer fish. "

How odd. I have always been told that they are poisonous, and will cause paralysis or death. This is not new information to most people, I suspect.

[Redcloak]

Preparing Fugu...

[Imal]

This has been blown way out of proportion. Nyuck nyuck nyuck...

Imal

[nuancey]

Homer tries Fugu? One of the funniest Simpsons shows.