Australia’s Business Insider has asked all those daredevils out there whether they would try any of the most dangerous foods in the world. If you’ve ever said you’d try eating anything once, then this is the article for you.
Different foods are harmful for different reasons and it is often those that appear the least threatening that can kill. So what are some of the most dangerous foods on the list? Keep reading to find out!
- Fugu Pufferfish – This tiny little fish contains a deadly neurotoxin, which if ingested can cause paralysis and suffocation. Considered a Japanese delicacy, the only way to safely eat the fish is to ensure it is properly prepared.
- Giant Bullfrog – Eaten as a form of celebration in Namibia, the giant bullfrog must only be consumed when it is fully-grown. This is because a deadly toxin that causes kidney failure is found in young frogs.
- Monkey Brains – People who eat monkey brains risk developing the fatal neurotoxic condition Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. It makes no difference whether the brains are raw or cooked, so best to just stay away.
- Sannakji – This popular octopus dish in Korea is cut up alive and served immediately, which means the tentacles are still active. Diners are advised to thoroughly chew the food as the tentacles could move in a person’s throat and suffocate them.
- Elderberries – Although these berries are currently used in a variety of products, the leaves, stems and seeds contain cyanide. If these are eaten, they can result in sever diarrhoea and seizures.
- Blood clams – Because these clams live in low-oxygenated environments, they sustain themselves on viruses and bacteria that are harmful to humans, including Hepatitis and Typhoid.
- Hakarl – This shark found near Greenland does not have a urinary tract so its body expels waste and toxins through its skin. To be considered safe to eat, it must be either fully cured or cooked.
- Casu Marzu – Maggots are intentionally laid inside this soft cheese to help with the fermentation process. If ingested, these maggots have the ability to tunnel through human intestines. Ouch.
- Apricot Seeds – If high quantities of apricot seeds are eaten, they are broken down to into hydrogen cyanide, a fatal substance that has reportedly killed numerous Turkish people.
- Red Kidney Beans – Before eating these beans, they must be thoroughly boiled for at least ten minutes. If not, they contain a toxin that causes a rapid onset of vomiting, diarrhoea and extreme nausea that typically lasts for hours.