South Korean broadcaster Choi Hwa-jung recently shared a frightening experience she had after eating pufferfish stew, leading to a lasting aversion to the dish. The incident highlights the serious health risks associated with improperly prepared pufferfish, a delicacy in some cultures.
Choi Hwa-jung described the experience during a recent appearance on her YouTube channel, where she was demonstrating a recipe using watercress. She explained that she now uses flounder instead of pufferfish when making a similar dish, stating, “I have a trauma related to pufferfish. When I was filming a drama, I had pufferfish stew with senior actors during lunchtime. Everyone else was fine, but my face went numb. Both cheeks were trembling, like I had a dental anesthetic – it felt like the poison was spreading.” She added that, even as the sensation eventually subsided, she has been afraid to eat pufferfish ever since.
Numbness in the Face Could Signal Pufferfish Poisoning
Pufferfish contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin found in its internal organs. This toxin is over 1,000 times more potent than cyanide, with as little as 0.5mg being a lethal dose for adults. Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, which are crucial for nerve signal transmission, leading to symptoms like numbness, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
Pufferfish poisoning progresses through four stages. The initial stage involves the spread of the toxin, causing numbness and tingling in the lips, tongue, and fingertips, which then spreads to the face. Symptoms may too include sweating, headache, and vomiting. The second stage is characterized by numbness, speech difficulties, and a rapid drop in blood pressure. The third stage leads to complete motor paralysis and difficulty breathing. The final stage involves full paralysis, loss of consciousness, and potentially fatal respiratory failure or irregular heartbeat.
While it’s not possible to definitively say whether Choi Hwa-jung’s symptoms were caused by tetrodotoxin, they are consistent with early neurological signs of pufferfish poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also lists numbness of the mouth and lips, along with facial tingling, as early symptoms of pufferfish poisoning.
Only Consume Pufferfish Prepared by Licensed Chefs
Choi Hwa-jung reported that her symptoms eventually disappeared on their own, but she emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention if similar symptoms occur after consuming pufferfish. Individuals should seek immediate medical care if they experience significant numbness in the mouth or face, severe vomiting or dizziness, slurred speech, muscle weakness, or difficulty breathing after eating pufferfish.
Cooking or grilling does not destroy tetrodotoxin, and there is no known antidote. Treatment for pufferfish poisoning focuses on managing symptoms and providing supportive care, such as artificial respiration if paralysis affects breathing.
It’s tricky for untrained individuals to distinguish edible pufferfish from poisonous species. Even edible pufferfish require careful preparation, including the removal of toxic organs like the liver, ovaries, intestines, and skin, which requires specialized knowledge. It is safest to consume pufferfish only at establishments employing chefs certified in pufferfish preparation. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also urges consumers to only eat pufferfish prepared by chefs with the appropriate certification.
