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Fugu fish soup leads to mass poisoning in Far East
RT ^ | 06 October, 2010

Posted on 10/08/2010 11:26:40 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Hospitals in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok have seen an influx of patients with a rare form of fish poisoning. Several people have died.

The culprit is the fugu fish – a traditional and popular Japanese delicacy.

The catch is you have to cook it very carefully because just one fish contains a poison capable of killing over 30 people. In Japan, only very experienced, specially trained cooks are allowed to dress fugu.

Fugu fish are not usually found off Vladivostok, but the warm summer saw their numbers grow.

Hungry anglers took it upon themselves to make what they thought would be a tasty fish soup.

There are more than 20 types of fugu, but it takes an expert eye to know which ones will not leave you clutching your stomach, or even worse.


TOPICS: Food; Health/Medicine; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: east; fareast; fish; fugu; mass; poisoning; russia; soup; vladivostok

1 posted on 10/08/2010 11:26:44 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

“A Taste of Death”, the Japanese call it. The flesh of the fish contains just enough toxin to make the tongue and lips tingle and go numb. Puncture the liver though, and you have a deadly fish.


2 posted on 10/08/2010 11:28:50 AM PDT by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: nickcarraway
Hospitals in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok have seen an influx of patients with a rare form of fish poisoning. Several people have died. The culprit is the fugu fish – a traditional and popular Japanese delicacy.

In Russia, fish catches YOU.

3 posted on 10/08/2010 11:30:39 AM PDT by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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To: nickcarraway

Gotta get my fugu on.

As I recall, the first indication your fugu has been improperly prepared is a pins and needles feeling in your fingers and toes. But when it HAS been properly prepared, you'll know because you'll get a pins and needles feeling in your fingers and toes.

4 posted on 10/08/2010 11:32:04 AM PDT by theDentist (fybo; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: domenad

mmmmm, yeah. Just the kind of eating experience I like. Numb tingling.

Jeeze...there are drugs for that.


5 posted on 10/08/2010 11:32:25 AM PDT by LifeChoice ('He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how.')
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To: nickcarraway

6 posted on 10/08/2010 11:32:56 AM PDT by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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To: SIDENET
"I'll have the fish."

-Airplane!

7 posted on 10/08/2010 11:34:20 AM PDT by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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To: nickcarraway
This reminds me of the Simpsons episode. Poison, poison, poison...ah tasty fish!.


8 posted on 10/08/2010 11:34:56 AM PDT by mrmeyer ("When brute force is on the march, compromise is the red carpet." Ayn Rand)
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To: theDentist

Fugu contains a neurotoxin which is not deactivated by heat. So it doesn’t really matter how long you cook it, it’s still lethal.


9 posted on 10/08/2010 11:35:55 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: nickcarraway
Fugu fish are not usually found off Vladivostok, but the warm summer saw their numbers grow.

Obviously those who died are going to be included in the "Victims of Global Warming/Climate Change" category.../s
10 posted on 10/08/2010 11:37:48 AM PDT by BWDog
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To: Lurker
it’s still lethal.

And makes a great Christmas Gift!

11 posted on 10/08/2010 11:39:03 AM PDT by theDentist (fybo; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: mrmeyer
This reminds me of the Simpsons episode. Poison, poison, poison...ah tasty fish!.

LOL...that was my reaction.

Homer: "Fugu Me!"


12 posted on 10/08/2010 11:41:10 AM PDT by kromike
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To: nickcarraway
Isn't the liver the culprit.

The real connoisseurs go to chefs that leaves just enough toxin in to give you a mild tingle.

13 posted on 10/08/2010 11:42:44 AM PDT by AU72
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To: BWDog

I’m always amazed that somehwere along the line, someone, somehow, figured out how to eat these without dying!!
How many people died along the way?


14 posted on 10/08/2010 11:43:07 AM PDT by OneBob
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To: OneBob

I lived in Japan 14 years and was offered fugu on numerous occasions, the only thing which I politely declined. Nobody was offended when I gave them my reason: “Can anyone prove the chef wasn’t drunk when the fugu was prepared?”


15 posted on 10/08/2010 11:51:45 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Vigilanteman

“Last night he and I ate fugu
Today, I help carry his coffin”


16 posted on 10/08/2010 12:03:20 PM PDT by sinanju
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To: mrmeyer
I think there was a Columbo episode where Louis Jordan deliberately prepared fugu so as to poison someone.
17 posted on 10/08/2010 12:10:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: SIDENET

“I had the lasagna.”


18 posted on 10/08/2010 12:13:54 PM PDT by dfwgator (Texas Rangers - AL West Champions)
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To: nickcarraway
"Poison...poison...poison...tasty fish!"


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

19 posted on 10/08/2010 12:20:54 PM PDT by The Comedian ("Progressive" is a code word for "Pending nitrogen cycle contributor")
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To: nickcarraway

I was treated to fugu on a couple of occasions . Taste is nothing special no matter how it is prepared . You’ve got to be a kamikaze to eat it on a regular basis .


20 posted on 10/08/2010 3:12:01 PM PDT by sushiman
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