$Unique_ID{BRK01582}
$Pretitle{Accidents, Poisoning, and Violence}
$Title{Is Poison Fish a Delicacy?}
$Subject{fish poison fugu}
$Volume{O-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is Poison Fish a Delicacy?


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QUESTION:  A rather strange individual who is a business acquaintance, tells
me he revels in eating poison fish.  He assures me that this is quite a
delicacy, known in Japan, but now available in the United States.  Can he be
believed, and is it possible that you have any idea of what this man is
talking about?  I can't imagine anyone doing anything this stupid.

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ANSWER:  Truth is often stranger than fiction, and in this case, your friend
is telling the truth.  He is talking about a dish made from the Puffer Fish,
known in Japan as "fugu".  The fish, which is eaten raw, is prepared by
specially trained chefs, who are trained to provide a safe, if somewhat exotic
dish.  Puffer fish, also known as the blowfish or globefish, contain a
substance in their flesh known as tetrodotoxin, a nerve poison, which may
serve as some type of protection in the wild.  However, this substance is
approximately 275 times more deadly than cyanide or 50 times more potent than
strychnine.  The reported delights of this dish, prepared from paper thin
filets, include a tingling oral sensation and the titillation of eating a
"dangerous" food.  And it is dangerous, with numerous fatalities reported in
Japan each year.  There is no specific treatment for this fish poisoning, and
your wallet may need some first aid as well as the cost of this "delicacy" may
reach as much as $200.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
