The World’s 10 Most Dangerous Foods People Actually Eat Handle with care—these exotic edibles may actually kill you!

by Jodie Gummow
AlterNet

Handle with care—these exotic edibles may actually kill you!

Many of us take pride in experimenting with adventurous new foods, especially when we travel abroad. But, as tempting as these mysterious delicacies can often appear, some of them can make us violently ill or even worse can be fatal. So without further ado, here are 10 of the world’s most dangerous foods according to Conde Nast Traveler, that you can eat but probably shouldn’t. You have been warned!

1. Raw Cashews. Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to buy a bag of these delicious nuts from the local bodega. But, what you don’t know is that the ‘raw’ cashews you purchase from the store shelf are not exactly ‘raw.’ The kernels have actually been steamed to remove the dangerous chemical urushiol which is related to poison ivy and can cause an unpleasant reaction on your skin. In large amounts, raw cashews can be fatal, so steer clear!

2. Elderberries. While elderberries are often used as a medicinal plant and found in homeopathy remedies to treat skin wounds and colds, the leaves, twigs and seeds contain a deadly chemical related to cyanide, which can cause severe illness and nausea if ingested. While some varieties are safe to eat, those that aren’t ripe or cooked properly can cause diarrhea and seizures.

3. Fugu. Also known as the puffer fish, fugu is a Japanese delicacy that if not prepared correctly can kill you or cause asphyxia. The fish, normally eaten raw, can only be served by highly trained chefs with years of experience in preparing fugu. This is because its internal organs contain the lethal poison tetrodotoxin. This substance is 1,200 more toxic than cyanide, which for the more daring foodies provides a slight tingling sensation. When consumed, the toxin does not enter the “blood-brain barrier” so a person can remain completely unaware that his/her central nervous system is slowly closing down, before experiencing paralysis, according to News.com.au. But this hasn’t stopped the Japanese, who continue to consume 10,000 tons of the fish every year.
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