Food is one of those things that can unite people.
Enjoying a good meal together is like the perfect bonding experience.
But while chomping down a good meal is one of life’s greatest pleasures, not all foods
are exactly good for you.
In fact, eating some types of foods can actually have some pretty serious consequences - even
resulting in death!
From a traditional snack that is as American as apple pie to a delicacy that is an affront
on all your senses, here are the top 10 foods that can kill you!
Hot Dog
The Hot Dog.
The wiener.
The frankfurter.
Whatever you call it, chances are you enjoy eating this popular snack.
You can find it anywhere, from food carts on the streets to even fancy restaurants doing
a more expensive twist on it.
But how can one of America’s favourite snacks be deadly?
How would this delicious sausage sandwich - that goes so well with ketchup and mustard
- turn into a menace?
Well, you might be thinking it’s because of all the processed meat, right?
Maybe because of the high sodium and the chemical preservatives?
While those are risks for your health, sure, that’s not exactly it.
There’s a hidden danger in hot dogs, one that you might not have even realized.
These frankfurters are a big choking hazard.
A study actually found that hot dogs are the cause of 17% of food-related asphyxiation
in children under the age of 10.
Those risks are also there for adults, of course.
Especially if they are an adult prone to participating in a hot dog eating competition.
Or a “how many wieners they can fit in their mouth” competition.
Or, of course, if they are just really hungry.
To better describe this potential choking hazard, a doctor even said it was like “the
best engineers in the world tried to design the perfect plug for a child's airway.”
That’s why people over the years have proposed some redesigns.
Some even found a way to manufacture a sausage with slits in it, so the choking hazard would
decrease.
But until this catches on, you might want to make sure you’re cutting your wieners
in smaller pieces - or eating your hot dogs more carefully.
One of those two.
After all, let’s admit it - you probably won’t stop eating them anytime soon.
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Casu Marzu
In the idyllic island of Sardinia, in Italy, there is a traditional delicacy.
It’s called Casu Marzu.
It will probably make most people’s stomachs churn.
Why?
Because Casu Marzu stands for “maggot cheese.”
Yes, the Casu Marzu is a putrefied cheese that has live maggots in it.
That’s why it’s often called the world’s most dangerous cheese.
The process to make this cheese takes months.
The Sardinians make the pecorino cheese and then cut its crust off, inviting flies to
lay their eggs.
Then, the cheese is left in a hut for about three months, while the larvae hatch and start
eating the cheese.
After that, their excretions give the casu marzu its… let’s say, distinct flavor.
All in all, it’s a gnarly process.
The cheese is typically eaten with the live maggots still in it.
When the maggots are dead, it’s a sign that the cheese has actually gone bad.
Really.
While everyone pretty much knows that eating live larvae isn’t a great idea - unless
you’re Timon and Pumba - let’s dig into why that is.
First of all, it’s often recommended that people shield their eyes as they eat casu
marzu.
That’s because the maggots can leap up to six inches off the cheese - and they might
land on your eye.
Not only that, but you also must make sure all the larvae is properly chewed and killed
before swallowing the cheese.
Because live maggots inside your intestine are not a good sign.
They can stay there for a while and even rip your intestines!
This food is so dangerous that it has been banned in places like the US and certain European
countries.
It’s so nasty that even famous food connoisseurs, like Gordon Ramsay, have faced the cheese
and failed.
It’s no wonder, though.
Casu marzu has been described as causing more of a “sensation” than an actual taste
in your mouth.
Not a good description!
Fugu / Pufferfish
Do you know what a Fugu is?
The Fugu is a type of pufferfish.
Which is a very slow-swimming fish that will fill up their stomachs with water, whenever
they feel threatened.
That’s what causes them to fill up.
Fugu is one of the most famous foods that can kill you.
It has reached pop culture, and can be seen in places like the first Charlie’s Angels
movie and even in The Sims games - but beware, they might kill you in-game too!
The Fugu contains a toxin called tetrodotoxin, which is a hundred times more potent than
cyanide.
Its liver alone has enough poison to kill five men.
The toxin can cause paralysis, which eventually leads asphyxiation, as the person stops breathing.
It can also cause heart failure.
That’s right, you don’t want to mess with the pufferfish.
Maybe because of its dangerous allure, the fish is also a famous delicacy in Japan.
And since it has so many risks, the preparation of the Fugu is regulated by the Japanese government.
There are laws to ensure the fish is properly prepared and detoxified before it hits the
market.
The chefs also undergo rigorous training to learn how to prepare the fish.
It usually takes about three years for them to learn - and they also need to take a test
that proves they know how to properly prepare and serve this delicacy.
Maybe that’s why restaurants across Japan charge a hefty price for the Fugu: how about
paying around $200 dollars for a dish that might kill you?
Ackee
Ackee is considered Jamaica’s national fruit - even though it didn’t originate there,
being brought from West Africa in 1778.
Nowadays, the ackee is also part of Jamaica’s favorite dish: ackee and saltfish.
Although the fruit might be delicious and beautiful in appearance, it can also be deadly.
Actually, strike that.
If eaten at the wrong time, the ackee will definitely make you sick.
That’s because an unripe ackee contains a toxin called hypoglycin.
When eaten, the unripe ackee can quickly affect the person.
In about two hours, the symptoms might include vomiting, loss of consciousness and seizures.
Without it being properly treated, it also can cause death.
That’s the reason why you’ll never find any type of fresh ackee in the US - the fruit
is actually banned in the country.
Legally, at least.
Even canned versions of the product are rare, as the processing and canning of the fruit
do nothing to stop the hypoglycin.
The reaction to an unripe ackee is so well-known that it’s also called Jamaican Vomiting
Sickness.
But don’t rush in just yet.
The only edible part is the yellow portion of the fruit, the arilli.
Meanwhile, the black seeds are always toxic.
Sannakji
There’s fresh food and there is food that is too fresh.
That’s the case of Sannakji.
It’s a popular Korean snack, and it’s sold in restaurants and also by street vendors.
So, what is Sannakji?
It’s live baby octopus.
Most people’s first sighting of Sannakji was probably in the infamous scene in the
movie, Oldboy.
The dish has a bizarre way of being prepared.
The chef first chops up the tentacles of the octopus, then it’s immediately seasoned
- usually sesame oil or soy sauce - and then served for the customers.
Because of that, the tentacles are still moving all around on the plate.
That makes it an interesting plate to see served in a restaurant - quite a sight to
behold... and realize you actually have to eat this pile of moving tentacles.
Of course, this delicacy is also very dangerous to eat.
That’s because the octopus’s suction pads are still functioning.
So, while you chewing down this delicacy, they might stick to the roof of your mouth.
Or to your cheeks.
Or to your throat, as it’s going down.
How about a tentacle stuck in your throat?
Sounds terrifying enough!
But what does it taste like?
Sannakji has a mild taste, with a slimy and chewy texture.
Eat it at your own risk.
It’s reported that about six people per year in Korea die from eating this dish.
So, if you ever find yourself eating this snack, make sure you chew it well and drink
lots of liquids.
Don’t be too scared, though, when you realize they might still move when inside your stomach.
Almonds
Oh, Almonds.
They are among the most popular nuts in the United States.
They also have a bunch of health benefits, which explains why the demand for them has
dramatically increased over time.
There’s just a special combination of nutrients inside almonds: it has a good quantity of
protein, fiber, and vitamins - that’s why it’s such a healthy snack.
They can also help with heart conditions, diabetes and are linked to reducing the risk
of cancer too.
But there is also a very risky side to eating almonds.
First of all, raw almonds can carry salmonella.
Salmonella outbreaks in almonds have been reported in some occasions, like in 2004 in
the US.
This incident caused 13 million pounds of almond to be recalled and it infected 25 people.
That’s also the reason why it became illegal to sell 100% raw almonds in the United States,
since 2007.
Now, all almonds must go through a process of pasteurization.
That’s not the only risk, however.
Did you know that there are actually two types of almonds?
There’s the sweet almond - which is the widely available variety that are pretty common
and there’s a bitter variation.
Those bitter almonds, in their raw form, are full of cyanide.
Even in small quantities, they can be deadly.
The bitter almonds are not actually sold in the United States, thankfully.
But, while you don’t have to live your life fully worried about your almonds, you should
also be mindful.
After all, that has been instances of contamination of unintentional mixing of sweet and bitter
almonds.
Mushrooms
There are many different kinds of mushrooms here on Planet Earth.
These toadstools come in a variety of different colors, while mostly maintaining a similar
shape.
Because they are so widespread, they can serve different functions.
Some are great with food, like the portobello mushroom, which is present in a lot of delicious
dishes.
It’s a tasty and nutritious, all in one little fungus.
Other mushrooms can be medicinal and we humans have been using them to help us sleep better
and help us with our colds.
There’s also the famous Psilocybin, that is considered a drug and remains illegal.
Then, there’s the famous death cap mushroom and its close relatives.
Like the name already says, ingesting these fungi can be fatal.
They can be found in the wild, and are not only highly dangerous - they are also deceiving.
Looking at them, they don’t scream “poisonous.”
Not only that, they reportedly also smell good and taste great.
Many people who’ve been poisoned by the death cap also said that it was the most delicious
mushroom they’ve ever eaten.
But they are definitely not worth trying.
If you eat a death cap in the wild, the symptoms might arrive only 24 hours later.
The person will suffer from abdominal cramps, vomiting, and severe diarrhea.
But because it takes so long for the effects to manifest, it’s often misdiagnosed as
the stomach flu or something similar.
Meanwhile, the toxins inside the death cap are hitting the liver pretty hard.
It actually binds to an enzyme and prevents the body from producing proteins.
Without that, the victim quickly experiences multiple organ failures and eventually death.
So, remember this: Don’t go eating any wild mushrooms, alright?
Hákarl (Shark Meat)
Hákarl is an Icelandic delicacy.
It’s fermented shark meat.
The process of preparing the dish is quite complex.
First, the shark is put in the ground and covered in gravel.
It stays there for three months.
That’s not all.
After that, the shark is left hanging for close to another three months, to dry it out.
Only then that this delicacy is ready to be eaten.
But don’t think this whole process makes the food taste or smell good.
The smell alone has been described as a “full-on assault to the senses” and “a mix of rotten
cheese and ammonia.”
But forget the smell.
It also tastes pretty rancid as well.
Apparently, even Icelandic people consider this more of an eating challenge than a tried
and true delicacy.
You might think that this shark meat can be deadly because of how it is prepared.
But that’s not actually it.
The fact is that this type of shark doesn’t actually have a urinary tract.
So, there’s a good chance that highly toxic substances get stored into the meat of the
shark.
Which can result in pretty bad side-effects when you eat it.
Not only that, shark meat can contain heavy metals and chemicals that are dangerous if
consumed in great quantity.
If you ever are in Iceland, just remember: That foul looking, rancid-smelling and awful
tasting shark delicacy?
It might also kill you!
Actually, the chances are probably rare.
Because most of you won't eat Hákarl anyway.
Bean Sprouts
Bean sprouts are often associated with Eastern cuisine, as it’s pretty common for many
Asian countries to include the ingredient in their dishes.
But over the years, these sprouts have been taking over the globe.
That’s because there are many health benefits to them.
They can help increase your bone health, your immune system and they are even good for your
eyes.
They are also very low in fat and rich in protein.
The only problem is that the beans need a hot and humid environment to sprout.
This type of environment is also very conducive for bacteria growth.
The Food and Drug Administration has stated that “Sprout contamination continues to
pose a serious public health concern.”
That makes them the perfect candidate for many life-threatening bacteria like salmonella,
e.coli, and listeria.
Since 1996, there have been over 30 outbreaks of e.coli and salmonella that were linked
to sprouts.
That’s why it’s often recommended that pregnant women, children or those with weak
immune systems avoid eating them.
In 2011, an outbreak of e.coli killed 29 people and affected over 3,000 in Germany.
But those risks are not only exclusive to bean sprouts.
They are linked to all kinds of sprouts.
Reports said these ingredients are also dangerous because they can easily be added to food without
being mentioned, like in a sandwich or a salad.
One way to be safe from these bacteria is by cooking these foods, as the process of
cooking is likely to kill the dangerous bacterias.
Potatoes
Fried, mashed, baked.
Potatoes can be prepared in a lot of different ways, and pretty much all of them result in
something delicious.
So, it might come as a shock to learn that those delicious little starches could actually
kill you.
And we’re not talking about death by french fry overdose.
Potatoes contain a toxic substance called solanine.
This toxic substance is even more pronounced in green potatoes - and in parts where the
potato presents a green tint.
That’s why it is recommended to cut out the green areas of the potato before eating
it.
The solanine is actually a natural form of insecticide.
But the levels of it can increase when the potato is left for long periods of time exposed
to the sun and warm temperatures.
The symptoms of solanine poisoning can go from stomach cramps, headache, and diarrhea,
up to more serious things like hallucinations, fever, and loss of sensation.
And, of course, it could also lead to death.
But don’t worry too much, as it’s pretty rare for a green potato to reach the markets.
Also, the amount of potatoes you need to eat in order to get poisoned is pretty high.
But, it’s also better to be safe than sorry.
That’s why you should avoid potatoes that look too green or taste bitter.
Those are both signals of solanine.
Overall, you can go ahead and enjoy this delicious starch without worrying too much.
We will, at least.
Did some of the more common foods surprise you?
Would you still be willing to try any of the more exotic ones?
Tell us in the comments!
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