The root is grown mainly in Africa and South America. CassavaĬassava is a root vegetable often known as tapioca particularly in the US. The cheese is actually sold on the Italian black market as it’s banned in Italy and across the EU. The problem is that when the maggots inside the cheese are dead and are ingested, they can cause severe illness by damaging the intestinal walls.Ĭasu Marzu is one of the few foods that eye protection is recommended, the bugs can actually jump 6 inches upward when bothered.

These eggs are responsible for the fermentation, or the maggots inside to be exact. This is a Sardinian sheep’s milk soft cheese that is left to ferment uncovered during its ‘ripening’ process so that flies are able to lay their eggs inside the cheese. The mortality rate at one stage reached 80% before treatments were found, now the rate is much less, from 1989-91 there were just six deaths. Jamaican Vomiting Sickness was first labeled in 1904 and as we mentioned earlier is caused by Hypolgycin, this poison is named after the way it causes hypoglycemia, which is a severe lowering of blood sugar levels. The scientific name apparently derives from the sailor who took the fruit in 1793 from the country to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, England Captain William Bligh and the common name from the West African name Akye fufo. The seeds are always toxic regardless of ripening and consumption of the Ackee poison causes Jamaican Vomiting Sickness which can lead to death. The issue lies when the fruit is unripe as the pods inside contain a poison called hypoglycin, but when they turn red and open naturally, and the fruit is fully ripened, the yellow arilli are safe to eat. The ackee, or Blighia sapida, is actually Jamaica’s national fruit and yet very dangerous. The frogs have a shovel-like piece on each heel for burrowing into the ground using a shuffling, backward motion. These frogs, measuring just under 10 inches, are the largest in Namibia and will eat quite literally anything they can from rats to reptiles and even other frogs. The toxin causes painful urination, kidney failure, and even death. The main problem with these bullfrogs lies in a toxin called Oshiketakata found in young specimens.Īpparently, they are safe to eat after the ‘third rain’ or when there is excessive croaking and breeding happening. The Giant Namibian Bullfrog or giant Pyxie is quite the delicacy in Namibia, often consumed as a celebratory dish, particularly by the Ovambo people. Many experienced and highly-regarded fugu chefs in Japan will apparently try to leave a small bit of tetrodotoxin so that when consumed a tingling feeling will pass through the tongue.įugu is often tried by westerners or general adrenaline seekers just for the experience but if you want a safer bet, Shimonoseki, a city in Western Japan, has had to date no fugu-related deaths whereas there are in general around 100 deaths a year.

The risk comes from a neurotoxin found in the fish’s organs, particularly its liver, known as tetrodotoxin.ĭon’t worry though Japanese law regulates the preparation of the fish in all restaurants with chefs going through 3 or more years of rigorous training. Fuguįugu, or the pufferfish, is often classed as the world’s most poisonous food.Īlthough a delicacy in Japan, if incorrectly prepared it can cause paralysis and asphyxiation. Keep in mind though that this may not be a definitive list of any sequential order.

Here we’re going to look at 5 of the world’s most deadly foods as well as some facts about each one. There are however plenty of so-called foods that will do just that, from simply giving you stomach problems to being fatal. It’s true we should all know a lot more about the foods we eat, but usually, we focus more on the fat content or the sugar levels not whether consumption will harm or kill us.

Fugu deaths 2016