- Fugu is a Japanese delicacy made from specially prepared pufferfish
- The fish’s skin, intestines, ovaries and liver all contain a deadly poison
- Supermarket in central Japan sold three packs of fugu with the liver included
- While three packs have been tracked down, another two are unaccounted for
Shoppers in a central Japanese city have been put on alert after packs of fugu were accidentally sold with highly toxic parts still inside.
A supermarket in Gamagori in central Japan sold five packages of the specially prepared pufferfish without removing the livers, which contains a deadly poison.
Three of the potentially lethal specimens have been located, but the other two remain at large, local official Koji Takayanagi said.
Shoppers in the Japanese city of Gamagori are being warned not to eat packs of fugu after five were accidentally sold with toxic parts still included
‘We are calling for residents to avoid eating fugu, using Gamagori city’s emergency wireless system,’ which broadcasts over loudspeakers located around the city.
‘Three packages will be retrieved today, but we still don’t know where the remaining two are.’
Fugu is one of Japan’s most expensive winter delicacies, and is often served in thin slices of sashimi or hot pot.
But the fish’s skins, intestines, ovaries and livers contain a poison called tetrodotoxin that can be fatal.
The poison works by blocking signals sent by the nerves, causing muscle paralysis.
Three packs containing fish livers (pictured top right) were sold, and while three have been tacked down, another two are still unaccounted for
The part of the fish that contains the deadly poison differs from one kind of fugu to another.
Japanese chefs are required to train for at least two years to prepare the fish, before taking a test which a third of applicants fail.
Despite the rigorous training, dozens of people are thought to suffer from fugu poisoning every year, with several deaths among that number.
Eating the fish is banned in most countries, but in Japan it is considered a delicacy.