![]() Under Japanese law, fugu chefs must undergo extensive apprenticeships of up to three years before they are licensed and allowed to handle and prepare the fish for food. It is most commonly served in high-end Tokyo restaurants as sashimi and hot pot ingredients but has also caught on in popularity in countries like South Korea and Singapore, where dedicated fugu restaurants operate. Ingestion can rapidly cause tingling around the mouth and dizziness, which may be followed by convulsions, respiratory paralysis and death, medical experts say. The fish’s organs, as well as skin, blood and bones, contain high concentrations of a deadly poison known as tetrodotoxin. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty ImagesĬommonly referred to as ‘fugu’ – the Japanese term for pufferfish – pufferfish meat is enjoyed as a highly-priced delicacy despite containing deadly poison. This photo taken on Decemshows a pufferfish in waters off Thailand. “There needs to be more awareness about the risks of consuming puffer fish – maybe authorities need to look at special certifications for vendors and suppliers,” she said. “As for sellers, it is debatable on their (part) if they are aware (of the risks).” “Once pufferfish have been cleaned and sold as slices, it is nearly impossible for the public to know the type of fish that they purchased,” Tan warned. “It’s considered exotic and tends to attract consumers,” said Aileen Tan, a marine biologist and director at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies. Malaysian law prohibits the sale of poisonous and harmful food like pufferfish meat and the offense carries a fine of RM10,000 ($2,300) or a prison term of up to two years.ĭespite the dangers, poisonous pufferfish are sold at many Malaysian wet markets, experts said. “I also hope the Malaysian government will beef up enforcement and help to raise public awareness on pufferfish poisoning to prevent such incidents from happening again.” “Those responsible for their deaths should be held accountable under the law and I hope the authorities will speed up investigations,” Ng said. Ng demanded accountability for her parents’ death and for stronger laws in Malaysia, where at least 30 species of pufferfish are commonly found in surrounding waters. Ng fell into a coma for eight days but his condition worsened and he died on Saturday morning, said the couple’s daughter, Ng Ai Lee, who gave a press conference at the couple’s home on Sunday before their funeral. AFP PHOTO / YOSHIKAZU TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/GettyImages) YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Imagesįugu blowfish fail sparks emergency warning in Japan city But despite the apparent danger, strict rules on serving the toxic delicacy in Tokyo are about to be relaxed. Every year in Japan people end up in hospital after eating pufferfish, sometimes they die. TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SHINGO ITO - FILES - Photo taken on Jshows a pufferfish, known as fugu in Japan, on a chopping board to remove toxic internal organs at a Japanese restaurant "Torafugu-tei" in Tokyo.
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