The article lists 10 foods that can be deadly if not prepared or consumed properly. These foods include:
1. Death cap mushrooms, which can cause organ failure and are responsible for the deaths of many people who mistake them for edible mushrooms.
2. Hakarl, a type of shark that is poisonous to humans if not fermented properly.
3. Fugu, a Japanese delicacy that contains a toxin that can paralyze and kill if not prepared correctly.
4. Belladonna, a plant that is highly toxic and can cause hallucinations, delirium, and death.
5. Sannakji, a Korean delicacy made from raw octopus tentacles that can cause choking and death.
6. Ackee fruit, which contains a toxin that can cause vomiting, seizures, and death if not ripened properly.
7. Giant Namibian bullfrogs, which are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure if consumed.
8. Casu marzu cheese, which contains live maggots that can cause intestinal blockages and death if not chewed properly.
9. English yew, a tree that is highly toxic and can cause cardiac arrest and death if ingested.
10. Water hemlock, a plant that is highly toxic and can cause nausea, seizures, and death if ingested.
These foods are not only deadly but also often have a high risk of poisoning, and in some cases, even experienced chefs and food handlers can make mistakes that lead to tragic consequences.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. There are approximately 10,000 different types of mushrooms in North America.
2. Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) are native to Europe but have been found in North America, Australia, Western Asia, and South America.
3. Death cap mushrooms are highly poisonous and can cause severe gastronomical upset and organ failure.
4. Hakarl is a type of shark that is considered a delicacy in Icelandic cuisine.
5. Hakarl is highly poisonous to humans if not prepared correctly.
6. Fugu (pufferfish or blowfish) contains enough poison to kill 30 adults with no known antidote.
7. The toxins in fugu are 1,200 times stronger than cyanide.
8. Fugu can paralyze people who consume it, causing them to die from asphyxiation.
9. Chefs in Japan must undergo at least three years of specialized training to prepare fugu properly.
10. Belladonna (deadly nightshade) is one of the most poisonous plants on the planet.
11. Belladonna contains tropane alkaloids that can cause hallucinations and delirium.
12. Only 10 tiny berries from the belladonna plant can kill a full-grown adult.
13. Sannakji (choking octopus) is a Korean delicacy that can cause choking and death.
14. The tentacles of sannakji can attach to the throat and cause asphyxiation.
15. Approximately six people die each year in South Korea from eating sannakji.
16. Ackee fruit contains hypoglycin, which can cause blood sugar to drop to fatal levels.
17. Eating unripe or untreated ackee fruit can cause Jamaica vomiting sickness, which can be fatal.
18. In 2011, 23 people died and 194 were suspected to have been poisoned from eating ackee fruit.
19. Giant Namibian bullfrogs are highly toxic and can cause kidney failure if eaten.
20. The majority of the bullfrog's body is poisonous to humans, including its skin, tongue, and most organs.
21. Casu marzu cheese is a Sardinian specialty made with live maggots.
22. Eating dead maggots from casu marzu cheese can be toxic and even fatal.
23. English yew (Taxus baccata) is a coniferous tree with bright red berries that are toxic to humans.
24. Every part of the English yew tree is highly toxic, except for the berries, which must be prepared properly to be safe to eat.
25. Water hemlock is considered one of the most lethal plants in the world and is found in North America.
26. Water hemlock contains cicutoxin, a neurotoxin that can cause nausea, breathing problems, kidney failure, seizures, and death.
27. The fresh root of water hemlock strongly resembles a parsnip, making it easy to mistake for a safe plant.