Bizarre Foods: the potent pufferfish

You may be thinking that this large, pretty fish would probably make some excellent fresh sushi or sashimi. Well, you'd be right, provided that it is prepared by a rigorously trained chef.  You see this lovely pufferfish (called "fugu" by the Japanese) contains a very potent neurotoxin, tetrodoxin, which will not kill the fish due to a mutation in one of it's protein sequences, but for you or I, could be fatal.  This deadly delight is considered to be a delicacy in Japan.  The preparation and sale of fugu is monitored by Japanese government.  Chef that will prepare this fish must be trained for 2 -3 years.  The culmination of their training is a written test, as well as a practical which includes preparing and EATING the fish.  I really love trying all sorts of strange and interesting foods when I travel, but I think when I make it to Japan, one more fugu will be swimming free.




References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu
http://www.wildjunket.com/2011/10/07/world%E2%80%99s-most-bizarre-foods/