Fugu: Poison Free

[SteveGrenard]

Scientific advances, and I'll include engineering and invention in that category, always has the potential to affect, yes even trump, tradition or culture. Think of how the automobiile, for example, affected the tradition/culture of using horses as transportation or how television, initially at least, impacted radio. One could go on and on.

There will always be special interest groups who will fight against some advance because it negatively or adversely affects them or they will perceive it as such. I maintain it is no
different with these fugu chefs and the industry groups who support them.

 

[athon]

You're making unsupported assumptions. It should be fairly obvious that people typically don't get involved in any business venture unless there is a profit to be made. That's what seperates businesses from charities and hobbies.

Luchog, you speak absolute sense. I am indeed speaking solely from unsupported assumptions, and would also imagine that anybody who would be investing such time, money and effort would know their market.

Yet ultimately, that in itself - while it is hard to imagine otherwise - is also an assumption. Stupider things have happened in the world than somebody investing research into making something unmarketable. In the end we can only speculate.

Athon

 

[Dr. Imago]

I also agree there would only be a minority of people who'd still purchase fugu simply because they like its taste, texture or because they don't mind having the tradition altered to not include the risk of death.

Again...

Let me simplify it for everyone.

Eating fugu = bunge jumping.

Both are equally and unnecessarily expensive and pointless ways to prove to yourself, without much real mortal danger, that you're somehow a daring risk taker. They only just make you look mentally deficient to a lot of other people.

-Dr. Imago

Bunge jumping wouldn't be as appealing to most people either if there was a big, soft, cushy mat below the jumper. Some would still do it, though.

-Dr. Imago

 

[The Painter]

People eat Fugu for one reason. It can kill you. If you take away the poison there is no purpose in eating it.

The attractions of this fish are many and varied. Some say
that the delicate flavour is the main attraction, others say that
the testes in a glass of hot sake are a powerful aphrodisiac.
Part of the experience of eating the fish is the warm tingling
and slight numbing of the lips that is one of the symptoms of
eating the toxin. But without a doubt, the biggest thrill is the
kudos gained from eating a meal that could cost your life, and
surviving.

'You are a fool to eat fugu, and you are a fool not to.'


http://fugu-fish.com/page7.html

 

[Soapy Sam]

What does it taste like, anyway?
I mean I like the odd fish n chips, but does this varmint come in double chocolate flavour or something? Or is it solely the risk factor that makes the wealthy want to eat it?
And for that matter- how expensive is it?

 

[SteveGrenard]

I have patiently tried to explain to a few posters here that fugu is just not eaten by the idiotic rich in fancy Japanese restaurants. There is more at stake for the success of puffer aquaculture than this demographic witness the following report out this week:

In the past week suspected puffer fish poisoning has been responsible for killing eight people and hospitalising over 170 more.

The eight deaths occurred in Bangladesh in the Narsingdi district where 38 people - including a fishmonger - were affected after eating what locals call potka fish.

Six people died at home and a further two in hospital whilst the rest were admitted after falling sick as a result of eating the fish.

The local union chairman also reported that crows, cats and dogs had died after eating the skin of the fish.

In a completely separate incident, 140 people were hospitalised in Thailand after eating a soup with fish balls following a funeral.

More details at:

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1662

 

[luchog]

Yet ultimately, that in itself - while it is hard to imagine otherwise - is also an assumption. Stupider things have happened in the world than somebody investing research into making something unmarketable. In the end we can only speculate.

Okay, they don't get involved in marketting something unless they have reason to beleive that they can do so profitably. Whether they're right or not can vary, and some truly stupid people have seriously overestimated their market; but they're the exception, not the rule. Businesses don't typically fail due to overestimating their market; they typically fail as a result of bad management. That's certainly the case with the majority of dotbombs.

 

[luchog]

Bunge jumping wouldn't be as appealing to most people either if there was a big, soft, cushy mat below the jumper. Some would still do it, though.

The majority of bungee jumping that I've seen, admittely a very small sampling, typically takes place over water, which provides a moderately effective safety net compared to, say, concrete.

 

[luchog]

People eat Fugu for one reason. It can kill you. If you take away the poison there is no purpose in eating it.

Because it's common knowledge that there's no possible way it could actually taste good.