The toxicity of puffer fish is caused by tetrodotoxin in its body.

It is one of the most toxic non-protein substances found in nature, belonging to a kind of neurotoxin, with a toxicity equivalent to 1,250 times that of the highly toxic drug sodium cyanide, and it takes only 0.48 milligrams to kill a person.

Pufferfish poisoning, in severe cases, leads to respiratory distress, decreased blood pressure, speech disorders coma, and finally death from respiratory and circulatory failure. Symptoms develop rapidly and death usually occurs within a few hours. Don't eat. The spawning season of puffer fish is from March to April every year. At this time, puffer fish have high subcutaneous fat content and tasty meat, which is also the most toxic season for puffer fish.

Expanded Information

Bufferfish are mostly tropical marine fish, with only a few species living in freshwater. Once threatened, the pufferfish swallows water or air to inflate its body into a spiny ball, making it difficult for natural predators to get at it. The internal organs of many species of pufferfish contain a neurotoxin that can kill.

There have been reports of people dying from eating puffer fish both at home and abroad. Although, you have to risk your life to taste puffer fish, it has a very delicious flavor. Therefore, there are still numerous gluttonous people who try their best to eat puffer fish. The most prevalent country in the world for eating puffer fish is Japan. There are puffer fish restaurants in all major cities in Japan. The chefs have to go through strict professional training. During the graduation exam, the chef has to eat the blowfish he or she has cooked. As a result, some people who are not skilled enough to take the test escape.

The puffer fish is highly poisonous, but its meat is delicious and tender, and people often compare puffer fish fillets with Japanese paintings, which are soft and delicate and have a long aftertaste .

People's Daily Online - Hainan three hospitals to rescue three cases of puffer fish poisoning Reminder: do not eat