Instant Noodle Brand Accused of Selling Toxic Pufferfish Variety
Now, thrill-seeking food enthusiasts in Japan can get a bite of the dangerously delicious "pufferfish" at a budget-friendly price, thanks to Cup Noodle.
Nissin Foods, the Japanese instant noodle powerhouse, recently launched the pufferfish flavor, adding it to their extensive product range. The noodles are priced at an affordable 298 yen ($1.90).
The pufferfish's essence is captured in a small packet of oil, to be added to the soup base, as per the statement on their website. However, they didn't disclose the method used to prepare the potentially lethal flavoring.
"In recent years... ramen shops specializing in pufferfish ramen have been multiplying, winning the hearts of many ramen lovers," reads the statement.
A Nissin representative informed CNN that there are no plans to distribute the pufferfish flavor outside Japan.
Each cup contains dried chicken meatballs, spring onions, and Japanese-style shredded egg in a soup base infused with a hint of yuzu, according to the statement.
A CNN reporter who tried the instant noodles described a taste of seafood broth and yuzu, a citrus fruit commonly used in Japanese cuisine. The pufferfish flavor was not prominently discernible in the dish.
Nissin was founded by Momofuku Ando in 1958, amid food shortages following World War II. The company has since grown into a global powerhouse, synonymous with its iconic Cup Noodles.
In the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company reported revenues exceeding 732 billion yen ($4.59 billion).
Although pufferfish, commonly served as sashimi or hot pot, is a coveted dish in Japanese cuisine, it is highly toxic, and improper preparation can lead to death.
Pufferfish contains high concentrations of tetrodotoxin, a deadly poison that causes symptoms like tingling around the mouth, dizziness, convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and death, according to medical experts.
Pufferfish, found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, are the second most poisonous vertebrate on the planet, after the golden poison frog native to Colombia.
Japanese chefs must undergo at least two years of training before they can take an exam to prepare pufferfish.
In 2018, an alarm was issued in Gamagori city, Japan, after two individuals consumed potentially deadly pufferfish products bought from a supermarket.
Fortunately, the pair did not report any health problems, but authorities found that a licensed employee had failed to remove the fish's poisonous livers.
The Japanese delicacy has been gaining popularity overseas in recent years, though it has been associated with occasional food scares.
In 2020, three lives were claimed in the Philippines after they consumed pufferfish from a barbecue stand.
Last year, an elderly couple in Malaysia died after consuming pufferfish, prompting their daughter to call for stricter regulations.
The two, in their 80s, unknowingly purchased at least two pufferfish from an online vendor and died after eating them.
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The introduction of the pufferfish flavor by Nissin Foods has expanded their business offerings, making the delicacy more accessible to a wider audience at an affordable price.
Despite the popularity of pufferfish in Japanese cuisine, the risk of toxicity remains a concern, highlighting the importance of proper preparation and industry regulations in the business of selling this hazardous delicacy.
