Seven diners in northern Japan fell ill and three were still in hospital today after eating blowfish testicles prepared in a restaurant not authorized to serve the poisonous delicacy.
The owner of the restaurant in Tsuruoka city, who is also the chef, had no license 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.
A 68-year-old diner was in a critical condition with respiratory failure and two others, aged 55 and 69, were in serious condition, Iwase said.
“It’s scary. If you go to a decent-looking restaurant that serves fugu, you would assume a cook has a proper fugu license,” Iwase said, using the Japanese term for blowfish.
Blowfish poison, called tetrodotoxin, is nearly 100 times more poisonous than potassium cyanide, according to the Ishikawa health service association. Eating it can cause death within an hour and a half.
There goes my appetite for fish
You know, I cannot help but think anyone who eats blowfish testicles ought to get really really really really sick.
Mike, they ain’t bad deepfried. Am I sick?
Weren’t they warned that those nuts may contain nuts?
Those idiots in Japan have been eating blowfish for centuries and it poisons an average of 50 people a years in Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu
but who am I to talk…
I smoked for 35 years!
They can’t taste THAT good.
They melt in your mouth.
Properly prepared, it isn’t actually that bad. I had a multi-course meal and got a piece that was about the size of pinkie finger nail. I didn’t know that was what it was until later. HariSake was the best, it was served as part of the first course and there was just enough toxin into to give you a slight numbing sensation.
I probably wouldn’t try it again – it’s like climbing mount fuji – climbing it once you are wise, climb it twice you are foolish.
Klaw – You’re not supposed to have them in your mouth if the fish is alive!
LOL @ DJ. I had the honour of a gay experience in Tokyo a few years ago, when I was served fish sperm at dinner. My hosts were snickering the whole time, but I had no idea what I was eating.
Love Fugu, tastes like nothing. If it tastes like something or numbs your lips/tongue you are in trouble. And there is nothing you can do at that point…
does fish sperm taste anything like fish eggs,and no I dont wanna find out
It seems like eating fugu is the Japanese equivalent of a redneck right after he says “Hey y’all, watch this”.
OMG!!!! IT’S MRS. PUFF!!!! How will Spongebob learn how to drive now???
@ Bill… the japanese are actually pretty smart
PaulV…just a question. If it tastes like nothing, why would you eat it and take the risk.. Just for the risk? KLAW… starting to sound like you…dunno??? Not to be offensive, I just don’t understand?
PaulV/Bella – If they taste like nothing, do you have to pay? And if people order my food, watch me eat it and start laughing, I’m probably putting down the fork. Or chopsticks.
Bella, did I offend you in some way? I hope not.
No, KLAW, not at all. It’s just you said you like the balls and I was wondering why? No offense taken either way, I hope, I don’t understand why you and PaulV would eat them when you know you could be dead????? If they don’t taste like nothing, why bother? Dunno.
I would never eat those nasty things, I was, as always kidding. I don’t know.
Oh, I bet the house on Arizona.Is housing cheap up there? not sure.
Ah, ya make me laugh KLAW! They would be nasty things but obviously some people have a taste for them. The price of housing has fallen with the economy but I heard the other day that the average cost of a house here is around 250 grand. I’m lucky that I bought 4 yrs. ago or I wouldn’t have been able to afford one now. Cheers, KLAW!! Have a good day and I hope your Arizona wins. I’ll tip a beer for ya. Bella
Booo, I was cheering for Arizona for KLAW. Didn’t work. Sorry KLAW!!