Fugu is a type of fish that is eaten in some sushi restaurants. Fugu must be prepared very carefully because parts of the fish contain tetrodotoxin which can be lethal to humans. Every year, people die as a result of eating inadequately prepared fugu. As such, the commercial preparation of fugu is generally highly regulated and expensive. Like many expensive things, this “food” absurdly carries high status and is considered a “delicacy.”

As a side note, fugu literally translates to “river pig,” making PETA’s “sea kittens” campaign seem a bit less silly.

According to Wikipedia:

“The symptoms from ingesting a lethal dose of tetrodotoxin [from fugu] may include dizziness, exhaustion, headache, nausea, or difficulty breathing. The victim remains conscious but cannot speak or move. Breathing stops and asphyxiation follows. For 50-80 percent of the victims, death follows 4-24 hours later.”

Now, if you recall, eggs and many other animal-based foods also carry the risk of death when inadequately prepared. For example, modern eggs have such high rates of salmonella contamination that the CDC now recommends strict handling to prevent food poisoning.

Gone are the days of the past when uncooked cookie dough containing raw eggs was a safe food. And that scene from Rocky where he drinks a glass of raw eggs? No one does that anymore; it’s far too dangerous these days!

“Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. [...] Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis. The rate of diagnosed infections in children less than five years old is higher than the rate in all other persons.” (source: CDC)

Oh, and by the way, the CDC adds:

“Some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, largely as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of food animals.”

See SaveAntibiotics.org for more information on that >>

Likewise, hamburger is notorious for e coli contamination. The CDC states:

“Outbreaks often are caused by food that has gotten the bacteria, E coli, in it. Bacteria can get accidentally mixed into ground beef before packaging. Eating undercooked meat can spread the bacteria, even though the meat looks and smells normal.”

Like fugu, people continue to die from inadequately prepared eggs or hambuger.

All of which makes me wonder: why so many parents who wouldn’t dream of feeding their child fugu continue to feed their children eggs and hamburgers?

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Sections: Vegan Theory
Topics: beef, CDC, cheeseburger, chickens, children, cooking, cows, cute animals, dairy, e coli, eggs, fish, food poisoning, food preparation, hamburger, health, hens, kids, peta, pufferfish, risk, safety, salmonella, sea kittens, slaughterhouse, sushi, toxic, Vegan