# Blowfish testicles poison 7 diners in Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250 "2009-01-27T17:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/1 "2009-01-27T17:32:35Z")
[Story here](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28874327/). OK, we all know how poisonous fugu can be if not prepared properly. Here’s the question: If you put someone on life-support, will the poison eventually work itself out of the system? I’ve heard of this working once for a victim of a black mamba bite. (But that’s a venom, as opposed to a poison.) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/2 "2009-01-27T17:41:31Z")
Yes. The poison is a paralytic. The cause of death is from respiratory failure. The problem is the poison is fast acting, requiring immediate intervention. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/3 "2009-01-27T17:52:53Z")
So what’s the difference between a venom and a poison? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/4 "2009-01-27T18:01:33Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > So what’s the difference between a venom and a poison? The way I use the terms, a poison is something that is toxic when ingested and a venom is a toxin that is injected via bite or sting. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/5 "2009-01-27T18:06:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > OK, we all know how poisonous fugu can be if not prepared properly. Here’s the question: If you put someone on life-support, will the poison eventually work itself out of the system? It can. At a certain point it’s just going to flat out kill you, but there’s a middle ground between “no effect” and “life support is useful”. Eventually your body detoxifies the toxin, but it takes awhile, much longer than you can exist without breathing. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/6 "2009-01-27T18:11:08Z")
Obligatory _Simpsons_ reference. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/7 "2009-01-27T18:26:31Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Obligatory _Simpsons_ reference. One of my favorite episodes from the early seasons! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/8 "2009-01-27T18:49:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The way I use the terms, a poison is something that is toxic when ingested and a venom is a toxin that is injected via bite or sting. I think there might be overlap between those though… would not a poison (in your usage) also be toxic if injected? And a venom toxic when ingested? Although I could swear I’ve read of snake venom passing harmlessly through the digestive tract… and long as you have no internal woulds or ulcers. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/9 "2009-01-27T18:54:38Z")
It’s more of a “species usage” word. The poison dart frog is poisonous - it’s that color to warn off predators, because if they touch it or eat it they’ll die. The diamondback rattlesnake is venomous, and it uses its venom in defense and to hunt. The poison dart frog has a passive defense system, while the diamondback has an active offensive weapon. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/10 "2009-01-27T21:11:29Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > It’s more of a “species usage” word. The poison dart frog is poisonous - it’s that color to warn off predators, because if they touch it or eat it they’ll die. The diamondback rattlesnake is venomous, and it uses its venom in defense and to hunt. The poison dart frog has a passive defense system, while the diamondback has an active offensive weapon. Venomous spines are also passive defence, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/11 "2009-01-27T21:16:32Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Obligatory _Simpsons_ reference. And that reference would be… ? ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/12 "2009-01-27T21:30:17Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Obligatory _Simpsons_ reference. I was waiting for a hairy fishnuts joke, mesself. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/13 "2009-01-27T22:02:31Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Venomous spines are also passive defence, aren’t they? Good point (no pun intended.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/14 "2009-01-27T22:06:30Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > And that reference would be… ? [One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/7F11.html) Specifically, the line “Poison, poison, tasty fish!” ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/15 "2009-01-27T23:33:35Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Venomous spines are also passive defence, aren’t they? Yes, but it’s not a passive vs active defense distinction. It’s a distinction between something that is injected into you and something that is ingested. A venomous spine injects poison. A poisonous plant or, as in the earlier example, frog, does no such injecting ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/16 "2009-01-27T23:41:42Z")
Seriously, fish have testicles? Where do they keep them? I guess all male critters have some form of testicles, but I never SAW any on a fish. I mean, even while filleting one. What do they look like? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/17 "2009-01-27T23:44:35Z")
You’ve never heard of [fish balls](http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,fish_ball,FF.html)? ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/18 "2009-01-28T00:01:59Z")
> [@KnitWit](#): > > Seriously, fish have testicles? Where do they keep them? I guess all male critters have some form of testicles, but I never SAW any on a fish. I mean, even while filleting one. What do they look like? Sure they have. Elongated, white or slightly yellowish smooth organs with texture much finer than roe. I saw them many times. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowfish-testicles-poison-7-diners-in-japan/483250/19 "2009-01-28T00:21:54Z")
> [@KnitWit](#): > > Seriously, fish have testicles? Where do they keep them? I guess all male critters have some form of testicles, but I never SAW any on a fish. I mean, even while filleting one. What do they look like? When used as food, fish gonads are called _shirako_ in Japanese. The most common type is [cod shirako](http://bmwnero.blog.ocn.ne.jp/photos/uncategorized/dsc01714.jpg). Fugu shirako looks like [this](http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/fukukakou/cabinet/kujira_shohin/shirako.jpg). [Here’s](http://ajiyoshi.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/15/torafugushirako.jpg) what they look like grilled. Fish gonads don’t really work like human ones, though. During reproductive season, the gonads fill up with sperm, which is released all at once. You’ll only be able to notice the gonads at the right time of year. For the record, the texture takes some getting used to but the taste can be quite nice. A lot of westerners have big hang ups about eating the thing, but, really, when you think about it, chicken eggs ought to be pretty gross, too. What the article fails to mention is that there are several sub-species of fugu. The concentration of tetrodoxin in each body part varies to some extent from one sub-species to another. In _most_ species, gonads are safe to eat. However, part of being a licensed fugu chef is being able to tell which parts of which species are edible.