Fugu: A User's Guide To The World's Most Dangerous Dinner (VIDEO)

In this week's New York magazine, fearless food critic Adam Platt travels to Japan to dine on the notorious fugu fish, which, if not properly prepared, is so lethal that a six-pound serving "has enough poison to take out at least 32 healthy adults, " Tom Parker Bowles, author of The Year of Eating Dangerously, says in the article. And yet it's still served in some restaurants. Which makes one wonder, what's fugu all about? Why do people still eat it? Could it possibly taste that good? To help answer these burning questions, we whipped up a guide to the world's most dangerous dinner:

What makes fugu so deadly?

Fugu contains lethal amounts of the poison tetrodotoxin in the internal organs, especially the liver and ovaries, and also the skin. Therefore, only specially licensed chefs are allowed to prepare and sell fugu to the public, and the consumption of the liver and ovaries is forbidden.

Who dies from eating fugu?

A number of people die every year from consuming improperly prepared fugu. The poison, a sodium channel blocker, paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious, and eventually dies from asphyxiation. There is currently no antidote, and the standard medical approach is to try to support the respiratory and circulatory system until the effect of the poison wears off. It is alleged that non-lethal quantities of the poison remain in the flesh of the fish and give a special desired tingling sensation on the tongue, which leads to the fingers.

What does fugu taste like?

[Food critic] Ruth Reichl has sampled deadly fugu ("It's like eating fluke," she told me, "only you're playing Russian roulette").

Where can you find fugu?

Check out this list of American restaurants that have put fugu on their menu.

How is fugu prepared?

How do you know if you're dying from fugu?

Once you have eaten part of the fugu sashimi, you will undoubtedly know if you have consumed too much poison. The lips and tongue go almost entirely numb in a similar sensation to tasting cocaine. This is called in popular culture, "The Taste of Death." If this does not occur in around ten to fifteen seconds, according to some connoisseurs, then the toxin is not present.

Death by dinner sounds pretty scary, but what else is frightening about fugu?

That it appears to have this sinister pulse even after it's been put on a plate:

Have you had fugu? If so, we're glad you're still with us. So tell us: what does it taste like? Did you feel any after-effects?

Comments

[SILVANUS]

01:26 PM on 04/30/2008

Oh, those Japanese.

[hardknox]

09:34 PM on 04/29/2008

I am proud to be the first to reference The Simpsons when I say, "Poison-Poison-Aahh...Tasty Feesh."

[Rendon76]

11:32 AM on 04/29/2008

The damn thing has to still be squirming or it isn't any good right...

[swkidder]

10:48 AM on 04/29/2008

What's next, bungee jumping and a fugu snack on the way down?

[cultkicker]

10:20 AM on 04/29/2008

You have got to be a real glutton for punishment to eat this fish... either that or you're completely insane. Only for those with a death wish.

Thanks, but no thanks (burrrrrp).

[white mende man]

09:50 AM on 04/29/2008

I had some raw blue fin tuna the other day with kikoman sauce crushed hot peppers and a sprinkling of lemon, frankly i will never go back to cooked.... hmmmmm fantastic

[Mike169]

09:47 AM on 04/29/2008

I wonder if it comes in fish finger format?

[drblack]

08:22 AM on 04/29/2008

The Japanese i know who eat Fugu eat it for the mild buzz TTX gives in minute doses.
The Japanese have worked out the preperation so that the risk is almost nil.

[Kalima]

09:15 AM on 04/29/2008

There have been a few cases where people have died because the chef did not have
the training required by law. Any restaurant serving Fugu must be registered and have
a license on display. The first and last time I ever tried it, I became ill the next day.
Later at the hospital, I was relieved to learn that I wasn't dying but that I was allergic
to raw food. My sushi and sashimi days were over from that day on.

[mamacat]

05:36 AM on 04/29/2008

My idea of dietary risk taking is having a hot dog, thank you.

[thenicerguy]

02:43 AM on 04/29/2008

Anyone stupid enough to eat this can just die. Talk about thinning the herd.

[ErnestineBass]

12:09 AM on 04/29/2008

Anyone here old enough to remember when the first preznut BOOOsh barfed all over the Japanese Prime Minister and then fell face first onto the floor?

Fugu, BOOOsh! BONZAI !!

[catalysis]

11:51 PM on 04/28/2008

Eating flesh while it is still convulsing seems a little morbid to me. Maybe it's because I'm an American but I don't see the attraction.

[ErnestineBass]

12:10 AM on 04/29/2008

I betcha you're a regular ball of fire in bed...

[jadez]

08:00 AM on 04/29/2008

nice screen name fits you well redneck clown

[Manni]

10:58 AM on 04/29/2008

So, as an American, what do you eat? Insects (Crawfish) or Rodents (Squirrels)?

[Knowledgeseeker]

10:30 PM on 04/28/2008

Interesting food, but not me
thank you

[KarateKid]

10:27 PM on 04/28/2008

I have had fugu while with relatives in Tokyo, and quite frankly, I don't know why people take the risk. As many sashimi and sushi afficionados know, there is very little "taste" or flavor in raw pieces of fish; it is more of a texture sensation.

I had a slight numbing sensation in my mouth and throat but not in my fingers so it must have been properly prepared. It has the same texture as seabass or other white meat fish, nothing special, a little crunchy.

It certainly is not worth dying for, to say the least. I can only conclude that some people like to play russian roulette for the thrill of it. Btw, a plate of the sashimi cost over $150. I'm glad I wasn't the one paying.

[achanler]

11:52 PM on 04/28/2008

Ruth Reichl WOULD THINK IT TASTES LIKE FLUKE. All those over the top mixtures of food in gourmet, all designed to hide the taste of flesh.
Fugu is a mild white fish, like the flat fish, a little like fluke/sole but less fishy and with a hint of algae and mud. Just a hint, not the whole mouthful like carp. Also very rich for a white fish.
Remarkable about fugu is the mouthfeel-crisp and waxy.
I've never felt numbness and I think it is very safe as it is usually served.

Now if you want a more toxic dish that will leave your mouth numb I recommend Pato No tucupi. Manioc stewed duck laced with the toothache plant Spilanthes.

[gregod]

02:57 AM on 04/29/2008

as pointed out before, you take a greater risk eating spinach in america than eating fugu in japan. more people die from salmonella than from fugu poisoning. and if you had any tingling it was in your head. the poison comes from the gall bladder and as long as it is not pierced there is zero poison in the flesh.

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

08:04 AM on 04/29/2008

I bet a LOT more people eat spinach than fugu or other things that contains salmonella

[Jedi007]

10:19 PM on 04/28/2008

I do not want to eat anything that is still wiggling on the plate. I would die from puking my guts out. That is the grossest thing I have seen. I am an absolute wimp about weird foods. The Japanese have my respect... I am sticking with the vegatarian menu.

[NtFourSale]

12:12 AM on 04/29/2008

Carrot killer.