Last week, we discussed the effects of tetrodotoxin which can be found in pufferfish.
Just to review tetrodotoxin is an irreversible binding biotoxin that inhibits Na+ channels resulting in paralysis.
There is no known antidote for tetrodotoxin, yet in Hati it has been rumored that certain individuals have been administered tetrodotoxin, presumed dead and then revived with local cures.
In Japan, tetrodotoxin is found in pufferfish and is carefully prepared as a delicacy. Chefs have served fugu liver after cleansing it of its poison through a traditional method. Still, sometimes a trace of poison remained, not enough to kill, but enough to thrill by slightly numbing the lip. As a response, the Japanese ministry of health outlawed the preparation of fugu. There are several cases resulting in death every year and deaths have occurred worldwide from eating improperly labeled puffer fish. From 1974 through 1983 there were 646 reported cases of pufferfish poisoning in Japan, with 179 fatalities. Estimates as high as 200 cases per year with mortality approaching 50% have been reported.
Heather found the following article in a recent New York Times issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04fugu.html?_r=2&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Scientists have worked on raising fugu without tetrodotoxin, however many believe the new form of fugu not to be safe. Others feel in its safe form, the “thrill” of this meal is lost.
