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# ☠️ Over 200 People Die From the “World’s Deadliest Food” Every Year — Yet 500 Million Still Eat It Safely. Here’s Why.
Imagine sitting down at a restaurant and ordering a dish that could kill you. Literally. One wrong cut, one stray bite, and it could be over. This is not a horror movie plot—it’s the reality of **fugu**, the infamous pufferfish delicacy. Every year, a few hundred people die from mishandling it, yet millions enjoy it safely, often as part of a celebrated culinary tradition. How is it possible that the world’s deadliest food can also be eaten safely? The answer lies in careful preparation, strict regulations, and cultural respect for the risks involved.
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## What Makes This Food So Deadly?
The danger of fugu comes from **tetrodotoxin**, a powerful neurotoxin found in the fish’s liver, ovaries, skin, and certain other organs.
### How Tetrodotoxin Works
Tetrodotoxin is not something you can cook out or dilute—it’s heat-stable and extremely potent. It works by:
* Blocking sodium channels in nerve cells
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