It sounds like something out of a thriller: a delicacy so deadly that one wrong cut could mean death. Yet, despite the risk, millions of people around the world still line up to try it .
We’re talking about fugu — also known as pufferfish — a Japanese dish considered a culinary delicacy… and potentially a lethal one.
Every year, over 200 people are poisoned by fugu , and about 30–50 of them die , according to health reports from Japan. Despite these numbers, nearly half a billion people consume pufferfish in various forms — often without any issues at all.
So what makes this food so dangerous? Why do people keep eating it? And how can it be both deadly and wildly popular?
Let’s dive into the fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — world of the world’s deadliest food .
What Is Fugu (Pufferfish)?
