
The amount of poison from ingested pufferfish is calculated as the amount of poison per gram for the part of the pufferfish eaten (mouse units/gram) × the amount eaten (grams). Mouse units are the unit used to represent the amount of pufferfish toxin, with one mouse unit equaling the amount of poison required to kill a 20 gram mouse in 30 minutes. The liver and ovaries of pufferfish exceed 10,000 mouse units per gram, meaning the tiniest amount will cause poisoning and can lead to death. Assuming 1,000 mouse units of poison per gram of pufferfish, just 10 grams is enough to cause death. The amount required to kill a person is aid to be around 10,000 mouse units. Tetrodotoxin is extremely deadly and is said to be 1,000 times stronger than potassium cyanide. This poison does not get destroyed during normal heating as part of cooking.
#Fugu fish poison skin
The substance which causes pufferfish poisoning is called tetrodotoxin and is found in the liver and ovaries of pufferfish, as well as the skin and muscles in some species. Takifugu rubripes (Ocellate puffer) liver Takifugu rubripes (Ocellate puffer) liver soup (souvenir) Takifugu poecilonotus (Finepatterned puffer) liver, etc. Takifugu porphyreus (Genuin puffer) ovaries Takifugu snyderi (Vermiculated puffer) and Takifugu pardalis (Panther puffer) stew (liver) Takifugu pardalis (Panther puffer) miso soup (liver) Takifugu pardalis (Panther puffer) liver Fished Takifugu xanthopterus (Striped puffer) liver Types of pufferfish which have caused food poisoning in TokyoĬases of pufferfish poisoning in Tokyo (1993-2015) The fatality rate for food poisoning due to pufferfish for the last 10 years (from 2006 to 2015) is 2.8%. The fatality rate (the percentage of patients who die) of pufferfish poisoning is extremely high in comparison with other forms of food poisoning. Once consciousness is lost, the heart and breathing will stop, resulting in death.Ĭases of food poisoning due to pufferfish in the last 10 years (nationwide) Consciousness remains clear until immediately prior to death.Thereafter, total body motor paralysis will occur and the sufferer will become unable to even move a finger.Before long, sensory paralysis, slurred speech, and difficulty breathing will occur.A person experiencing pufferfish poisoning will totter or stagger when attempting to walk.

This is accompanied by pain such as a headache or stomachache and may also result in continuous and violent vomiting. Between 20 minutes and 3 hours after eating, numbness begins to occur in the lips, the tip of the tongue, and the fingertips.
