Live Octopus
Octopuses are among the most intelligent creatures on Earth, with a unique nervous system. Their tentacles remain active even after being severed. In South Korea, people traditionally eat live octopus. It is chopped into pieces and dipped in soy sauce or sesame oil before being eaten. As the tentacles are still moving, they can cling to the throat and cause choking.
On average, there are six deaths per year in South Korea due to suffocation from eating live octopus. In some cases, the tentacles have even crawled from the mouth into the nasal cavity.
Casu Marzu (Rotten Cheese)
This cheese is fermented using live maggots and is not for the faint-hearted or those with stomach problems. It is made from sheep’s milk, and during fermentation, fly larvae are intentionally introduced. The maggots accelerate fermentation, and the cheese is eaten when it becomes almost liquid. At this point, thousands of live maggots are still present. While eating, maggots can leap from the plate into the eater’s face, so diners often wear protective eyewear.
Unpasteurized Cheese
Cheese made from raw (unpasteurized) milk can harbor all kinds of pathogens and harmful bacteria, posing serious health risks. Such cheeses are banned in the U.S.
Raw Cashew Nuts
Raw cashews contain urushiol, a toxic substance that can be fatal if consumed in large amounts.
Hákarl (Fermented Shark)
Greenland sharks have high levels of urea and trimethylamine oxide in their flesh. To make them edible, the meat is either hung to dry or buried underground for 3 to 5 months. According to the Canadian Food Safety Institute, consuming too much of it can cause gastrointestinal issues, nerve damage, seizures, or even death.
Rhubarb
This bright pink stalk is found in pies and jams, but its leaves should never be cooked or eaten, as they contain oxalic acid. In large quantities, this acid can be lethal.
Elderberries
Native to Canada, elderberries are delicious and safe when properly cooked. They are often used in supplements, wine, tea, jam, and pastries.
However, the leaves, branches, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can be fatal. Eating unripe or improperly processed elderberries may cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, severe diarrhea, and nausea. In large quantities, they can cause serious illness or seizures.
