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Blowfish Testicles Poison 7 Diners in Japan

Chef served dangerous dish without license, cops say

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 27, 2009 4:39 PM CST
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(AP) – World travelers, take note. Blowfish testicles prepared by an unauthorized chef have sickened seven diners in northern Japan, three of whom remain hospitalized. The owner of the Tsuruoka restaurant had no license to serve blowfish and was being questioned on suspicion of professional negligence. Blowfish poison, called tetrodotoxin, is nearly 100 times more poisonous than potassium cyanide. It can kill in 90 minutes.

The seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant last night. Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis, breathing trouble, and started to lose consciousness—typical signs of blowfish poisoning—and were taken to a hospital. "It's scary," the official said. "If you go to a decent-looking restaurant that serves fugu, you would assume a cook has a proper fugu license."
 

A blowfish.
A blowfish.   (Flickr)
A traditional Japanese meal.
A traditional Japanese meal.   (AP Photo)
A chef pours sauce on his sushi.
A chef pours sauce on his sushi.   (AP Photo)
A shopper has a closer look at tuna heads in front of a fishmonger in Tokyo.
A shopper has a closer look at tuna heads in front of a fishmonger in Tokyo.   (AP Photo)
A man eat a tuna sushi at a sushi stand in Tokyo.
A man eat a tuna sushi at a sushi stand in Tokyo.   (AP Photo)
A blowfish.
A blowfish.   (Flickr)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
riffran
Jan 29, 2009 5:00 AM CST
They ever thought about mixing 1% lidocaine in with the wasabi?...ha ha ha....hmmmm wasn't aware of the whole "lip numbness" thing...must research.....thanks for the tidbit
Guest
Jan 28, 2009 6:07 AM CST
good times, good times...
Guest
Jan 28, 2009 2:29 AM CST
Does this mean fugu restaurants ought to have to post their fugu license? Although yeah, the more vegetarian the better.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
food poisoning • Japan • restaurant • delicacy • sushi • hospitalization • fugu • blowfish • testicles

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