The promise of well-prepared pufferfish is tantalizing to any true gourmet but this dish is only for the brave. Hundreds of Japanese pufferfish-lovers die from this delicacy every year and there is no antidote against the fish’s lethal poison, tetrodotoxin.
Still, many would agre that a properly prepared pufferfish is worth the risk. The toxin is largely localized and most of the over 20 types of fugu carry the tetrodotoxin in the liver and, in the females, the ovaries. Depending on the exact breed, the eyes and gall bladder may also be off limits. The experienced chef cuts away the poisonous parts of the animal, without injuring the valuable meat. Many scientists have studied the wildly popular pufferfish: some claim that tetrodotoxin has hallucinogenic effects when take in small doses, making the meat a sort of maritime cocaine. The adrenaline rush that comes with eating pufferfish is an interesting plus as the diner realizes that any bite could be his last.