The article discusses 16 exotic foods that can be deadly if not prepared or consumed properly. These foods include:
1. Fugu (Japanese blowfish) - can be toxic if not prepared correctly
2. Hákarl (Icelandic fermented shark) - can contain toxic substances like urea
3. Ackee (Jamaican fruit) - can cause hypoglycemia if eaten unripe
4. Cassava (South American root) - can release cyanide if eaten uncooked or unfermented
5. Ngongoli (African fruit) - contains hydrogen cyanide and requires special preparation
6. Sannakji (Korean raw octopus) - can cause choking due to its suckers
7. Casu marzu (Sardinian cheese) - contains live maggots that can jump up to 6 inches
8. Hot dogs (American processed meat) - a top cause of food-related choking deaths
9. Absinthe (European liqueur) - can cause hallucinations due to its psychoactive properties
10. Death cap mushroom (European fungus) - can cause liver, kidney, and heart damage
11. Blood clams (Chinese shellfish) - can carry diseases like typhoid and hepatitis A
12. Cherry seeds (worldwide) - contain hydrogen cyanide
13. Rhubarb leaves (worldwide) - contain oxalic acid that can cause kidney failure
14. African bullfrog (Namibian amphibian) - can cause kidney failure if eaten
15. Elderberries (worldwide) - the leaves, twigs, and seeds are poisonous and can cause nausea
16. Raw cashews (wild, not store-bought) - may contain urushiol, a toxic chemical
The article highlights the importance of proper preparation and caution when consuming these foods, and encourages readers to share their thoughts and opinions in the comments section.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Fuji Blowfish contains a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin that can shut down nerve signaling.
2. The method of preparing Fuji Blowfish is heavily regulated in Japan.
3. Hákarl, an Icelandic delicacy, is made from a raw Greenland shark that has been cured and dried for six months.
4. The skin of the Greenland shark contains toxic substances like urea.
5. The Ackee fruit is toxic if eaten before it splits open, and contains a toxin called hypoglycin.
6. Eating unripe Ackee fruit can cause hypoglycemia.
7. Cassava root is toxic if eaten uncooked or without fermentation, and can release an enzyme that turns into cyanide.
8. The Panjim fruit, also known as the football fruit, is toxic and must be boiled and fermented for 40 days to remove hydrogen cyanide.
9. San Nakji, a Japanese dish, is made from raw long-armed octopus and can cause choking hazards due to the octopus's complex nervous system.
10. Casa Marzu, an Italian cheese, is filled with live maggots that can jump up to six inches.
11. Eating the maggots from Casa Marzu can cause nausea, vomiting, and blood-filled diarrhea.
12. Hot dogs are a top cause of food-related choking deaths in children under three.
13. Absinthe, a liqueur, contains a chemical that has psychoactive properties and can cause hallucinations.
14. The Death Cap mushroom is toxic and can cause liver, kidney, and heart damage if ingested.
15. Blood clams can carry diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, and dysentery.
16. Cherry seeds contain the poisonous compound hydrogen cyanide.
17. A person would need to ingest hundreds of cherry seeds to be fatal.
18. Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which can cause kidney failure in humans.
19. Eating too many rhubarb leaves can cause trouble breathing, diarrhea, eye pain, and red urine.
20. The African bullfrog's skin and organs contain toxic substances that can cause kidney failure in humans.
21. Elderberries are poisonous, but the berries themselves are safe to eat in jams and jellies.
22. The leaves, twigs, and seeds of elderberry plants can cause nausea and severe forms of sickness if ingested.
23. Raw cashews may contain urushiol, a chemical that can be fatal in large quantities.
24. Raw cashews are often steamed to remove the urushiol chemical.