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Blowfish testicles poison 7 diners in Japan

Unlicensed chef prepared delicacy eaten by thrill-seeking gourmets

TOKYO - Blowfish testicles prepared by an unauthorized chef sickened seven diners in northern Japan and three remained hospitalized Tuesday after eating the poisonous delicacy.

The owner of the restaurant in Tsuruoka city, who is also the chef, had no license to serve blowfish and was being questioned on suspicion of professional negligence, police official Yoshihito Iwase said.

Blowfish, while extremely poisonous if not prepared properly, is considered a delicacy in Japan and is consumed by thrill-seeking gourmets.

Iwase said the seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant Monday night.

Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness — typical signs of blowfish poisoning — and were rushed to a hospital for treatment, Iwase said.

A 68-year-old diner remained hospitalized in critical condition with respiratory failure and two others, aged 55 and 69, were in serious condition, he said.

"It's scary. If you go to a decent-looking restaurant that serves fugu, you would assume a cook has a proper fugu license," Iwase said, using the Japanese term for blowfish.

Blowfish poison, called tetrodotoxin, is nearly 100 times more poisonous than potassium cyanide, according to the Ishikawa Health Service Association. It can cause death within an hour and a half after consumption.

Three people died and 44 others were sickened by blowfish poisoning in 2007 — most of them after catching the fish and cooking it at home — according to the Health Ministry.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28874327/

So, I've always wondered -- is it a delicacy because it tastes so good, or because of the thrill of the risk? Any of you world travelers tried it?

I have always asked, but always been denied. In the politest possible way, of course. My Japanese hosts say the shame of having a guest die on their hands would be impossible to live down.

And here naïve little me figured when I first saw this thread's title that Blowfish must be what some new escort is calling himself.

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Iwase said the seven men ordered . . . grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant Monday night.

Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness — typical signs of blowfish poisoning . . .

Yesss!!!!!!!

Yesss!!!!!!!

LOL score one...errrr...seven for the blowfish.

And here naïve little me figured when I first saw this thread's title that Blowfish must be what some new escort is calling himself.

LOL...he must have had scopolamine on his balls!

I've had it when in japan and found it very bland.

I'm told that the excitement is the numbness/slight intoxication from eating it. I experienced none of that, so I couldn't say. Maybe back in the day when they hadn't gotten the preparing it down to the science it is today. At this point, I think it's more about the ego of eating something that could kill you than the taste of it.