We all know that not eating is dangerous and can lead to death, but there are times when eating can be as well. Some food types will always be a risk, while others will be fine unless not cooked properly. It is easy to enjoy playing Starburst online and suddenly realise that the evening meal is not ready. Regardless of the delay, it is still best to ensure that your meal is safe to eat…
African Bullfrog
While African bullfrog will not appear on many western dinner tables, Namibians often eat it. They even consider it a delicacy. When you cook it correctly, there are few problems, but at times kidney failure can occur. The timing can be essential, as it is safest when bullfrogs are breeding _or after the third rain. Growing to the size of cats, bullfrogs can have a lot of poison inside.
Live Octopus
Octopus is an easy-to-find creature anywhere on earth and is usually very safe to eat. The problems start when you try to eat octopus raw – a product known as sannakji. The danger also arises when swallowing the piece of octopus. There are neurons in the limbs, and they continue to move when one is eating them. The suction cups can attach themselves to the throat, and this can lead to choking. In short, it can be hard to swallow the pieces.
Fugu
Fugu is another name for pufferfish or porcupine fish. It is a dish that requires expert preparation. While there is no set time for training, it is a must to obtain certification. To be precise, make sure you remove the tetrodotoxin to ensure none is in the flesh.
Mostly cook the fish as sashimi or chirinabe, with the liver being the most desirable part. The problem here is that the liver also contains the most poison and cannot be served in restaurants in Japan.
Cassava
None of the cassava plants is safe to eat raw as they contain poison. There is both linamarin and lotaustralin contained in all parts. Described as either sweet or bitter, and this is due to the level of cyanide involved. Less than 20 mg per kg is in the sweet, while 50 times more is in the bitter. If you grow cassava during a drought season, the levels will be higher.
The conditions you could suffer from include goitres and ataxia. It might as well cause pancreatitis and the inability to walk. As it can take up to 4 hours for the results to show, the following stage can be a shock. The patient may be sick and collapse. They could be dead within a further 2 hours. The good news is that thiosulfate injections can be a cure.
Blood Cockles
These cockles come from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. They are not as safe as other varieties as they take in bacteria and viruses. As they live in areas of low oxygen, they are suspect of ingesting typhoid, hepatitis A and dysentery. When ordering them, it will be best to enquire about their source. It is best to avoid any blood cockles from Chinese waters. They can present the risk of hepatitis in particular.
Ackee
Native to Jamaica, never eat Ackee unless you can be sure that it is fully ripe. The way to tell if there will be a problem is to look at the fruit. The black seeds are never safe to eat and do not eat the fruit when it is yellow. When the flesh is orange, that is the time to eat it, as that is proof that it is fully ripe. Never eat the seeds, however, as they are not safe to consume.
Rhubarb
Despite being a favourite for many in a pie, rhubarb can be the cause of liver failure. It has a sour taste due to the oxalic acid and can cause sickness even if you have cooked it fully. It will be easy to identify that there is an issue.
The symptoms are diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, sore eyes, and a red tint to the urine. There is good news and bad news regarding this. As little as 15 g of oxalic acid could be fatal for a human. The good news is that they would have to eat 11 lbs of rhubarb to reach that level.
Casu Marzu
If blue cheese is hard for you to eat, then this will be a step too far. The Sardinians love cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is also full of live maggots. As would be expected, people in Europe do not eat Casu Marzu. The larvae are not going to kill anyone, but they can make them very ill. There is no guarantee that the larvae will die when swallowed. But, they could live and cause a lot of issues with digestion and bowel movements.
Wild Mushrooms
Mushrooms seem to be part of most cuisines, but not all are safe to eat. People who go out and pick their own have to know what they need. The main culprit is the death cap mushroom, as they trigger all but 10% of deaths from eating mushrooms.
The majority of mushrooms are safe for human consumption. If not purchased at the store, it is best to test the knowledge of the person who picked them.
Shellfish
Many people have allergies to shellfish, and for them, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mussels, and scallops could be fatal. A small mouthful of shellfish can be enough to lead to anaphylactic shock. They can still be dangerous for other people as they end up with bacteria inside them. While filtering water effectively, they are not as good as removing harmful bacteria.
In some cases, the simple act of cooking can be the ideal way to prevent becoming ill when eating food. When there is any doubt regarding the safety of an item, it will be best to leave it to the experts to do the cooking. Lastly, people can enjoy eating lots of food, but they need to be careful.