Dangerous blue-ringed octopus found in seafood in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Seafood enthusiasts are urged to exercise caution as instances of the dangerous blue-ringed octopus found in food have been increasing, whether in barbecue restaurants, skewers prepared for grilling, or even sushi.

But why is this particular species a cause for concern? Let’s delve into the interesting yet perilous world of the blue-ringed octopus, a creature that is 20 times more venomous than a cobra, and learn how to identify it before consumption.

 

The blue-ringed octopus has recently been discovered in a local sushi restaurant, causing quite a stir. Similarly, customers were shocked to find the same species in a popular hotpot restaurant’s promotional offer for 99 baht per kilogramme. Another incident involved a young man suspecting the presence of a blue-ringed octopus in a seafood stall in the market, raising questions about the vendor’s sourcing practices.

The blue-ringed octopus, part of the giant octopus lineage, is a small species that can be found in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Its distinctive feature is a pattern of blue or purple rings that glow when threatened, set against a white or green body. This makes it one of the most beautiful octopuses, but also one of the most deadly.

 

by Samantha Rose

Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-16

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[CanadaSam]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

and learn how to identify it before consumption.

 

And, I'm still waiting to "learn" how to identify it, as it probably won't glow purple or blue when threatened, if it's dead?

[Lee65]

15 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

And, I'm still waiting to "learn" how to identify it, as it probably won't glow purple or blue when threatened, if it's dead?

 

The Thaiger.  Not worth reading, even if your life may depend on it.

[worgeordie]

I was in an Aquarium shop in Hong Kong and they had some Blue Ring Octopus for sale,

I said to the manager of the store that they are very Venomous and if bitten a good

chance you could die,he just shrugged his shoulders , much like the seafood sellers

in Thailand ,I bet 

 

regards Worgeordie

[huangnon]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

The blue-ringed octopus has recently been discovered in a local sushi restaurant, causing quite a stir. Similarly, customers were shocked to find the same species in a popular hotpot restaurant’s promotional offer for 99 baht per kilogramme

 

Obviously not an endangered species then.

[Pique Dard]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

Its distinctive feature is a pattern of blue or purple rings that glow when threatened, set against a white or green body.

...... in principle, fish are not eaten alive, so is an octopus in a restaurant, and therefore a dead octopus, able to change color?

[2baht]

Lets give it a name....Callum Murray! 

[Gottfrid]

52 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

...... in principle, fish are not eaten alive, so is an octopus in a restaurant, and therefore a dead octopus, able to change color?

Sure! You just have to ask it to.

[ezzra]

Not to worry folks, Thailand's restaurateurs are known for their generosity when it comes to compensate people who

got poisoned eating their food...

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, huangnon said:

 

Obviously not an endangered species then.

Unlike the customers.

[Lapun]

Maybe seafood vendor ought to read this -

 

https://says.com/my/news/experts-warn-public-not-to-eat-this-octopus-as-its-poison-can-kill-a-person-within-minutes

[HighPriority]

I wasn’t aware it was poisonous, I had always been told it was venomous.

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

I wasn’t aware it was poisonous, I had always been told it was venomous.

 

you bring up a good point .....    I would expect if something is highly venomous then it would also be poisonous .

 

 

[Lemsta69]

4 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

...... in principle, fish are not eaten alive, so is an octopus in a restaurant, and therefore a dead octopus, able to change color?

 

Some people have no principles...

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=j1oByXmohhU

[HighPriority]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

you bring up a good point .....    I would expect if something is highly venomous then it would also be poisonous .

 

 

Not at all, I’ve eaten Eastern Brown Snake, one of the worlds most venomous.

Definitely wouldn’t want to be bitten by one though. 

[Jing Joe]

1 hour ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

Some people have no principles...

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=j1oByXmohhU

Wow, ALARM BELLS.   Just read that VERY SACRY warning and feel like throwing the vendors food to the ground, but would probably have to face the police, like the vendors should do in the first place.   

"Cooking doesnt destroy the venom, theres no antidote and enough venom to kill 26 people in minutes."  Deaths just waiting to happen.

Sure the authorities have issued warnings but where are the health inspectors?

"High Priority">> A snakes venom is in its head so you were ok.

 

[soalbundy]

An important additive to a Chinese buffet.

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

And, I'm still waiting to "learn" how to identify it, as it probably won't glow purple or blue when threatened, if it's dead?

Try reading the full report, then you'd know.

 

EDIT:  The confused wouldn't be "Confused" if they did bother to read the full article!

[John Drake]

51 minutes ago, Jing Joe said:

Sure the authorities have issued warnings but where are the health inspectors?

 

555

[rwill]

And of course you will never learn the names of the places selling them.

[Bundooman]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Try reading the full report, then you'd know.

 

EDIT:  The confused wouldn't be "Confused" if they did bother to read the full article!

For your information and your superior manner, I did read it.

It clearly describes the BR octopus - but what it doesn't do is to tell you what it looks like when it is cooked.

So please enlighten us, Oh worthy one - just what does it look like when cooked?

 

[connda]

I heard it tastes like chicken. 

[daveAustin]

Why do people feel the need to eat such exotic foodstuffs? Typically a Chinese/Asian thing. It’s this wet market messing about with animals that has brought lovely delights like covid19 and gawd knows what else. Leave them be! If you can’t get it up, try viagra of a leech!

[Hervey Bay]

16 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

And, I'm still waiting to "learn" how to identify it, as it probably won't glow purple or blue when threatened, if it's dead?

I caught one of these once, and apart from the fact that they are very small, I recall that even when you cannot see the blue rings, there are a number of brownish circular patterns on them. The overall size of the octopus is a giveaway. It is apparent that they are not a juvenile but a tiny adult.

[Scouse123]

No more squid or similar for me!

 

Prawns, mussels, and cockles from now on.

 

Scary! And a hell of a painful death.

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, Lee65 said:

 

The Thaiger.  Not worth reading, even if your life may depend on it.

I have yet to hear of people dropping dead from this toxic item more poisonous than a cobra bite!

[HighPriority]

13 hours ago, Jing Joe said:

Wow, ALARM BELLS.   Just read that VERY SACRY warning and feel like throwing the vendors food to the ground, but would probably have to face the police, like the vendors should do in the first place.   

"Cooking doesnt destroy the venom, theres no antidote and enough venom to kill 26 people in minutes."  Deaths just waiting to happen.

Sure the authorities have issued warnings but where are the health inspectors?

"High Priority">> A snakes venom is in its head so you were ok.

 

You are correct about the snake, I assumed that the Blue Ringed Octopus was similar but from the Thaiger article it states

…”The venom of the blue-ringed octopus is called Tetrodotoxin, similar to that of pufferfish. It can be found in the saliva, beak, tentacles, intestine, and ink sacs and directly affects the nervous system, leading to paralysis, respiratory failure, and potentially death.”

[Aussie999]

16 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

you bring up a good point .....    I would expect if something is highly venomous then it would also be poisonous .

 

 

It comes down to how it enters the body

[neverere]

On 12/16/2023 at 10:29 AM, CanadaSam said:

 

And, I'm still waiting to "learn" how to identify it, as it probably won't glow purple or blue when threatened, if it's dead?

To identify a blue-ringed octopus, look for a small body about 4 to 5 centimetres long and around 15 centimetres in length, with small blue reflective rings across its body and tentacles. This differentiates it from the Ika Ikue octopus, which only has one to two rings on its body and is safe to eat.

[Old Croc]

16 hours ago, Bundooman said:

For your information and your superior manner, I did read it.

It clearly describes the BR octopus - but what it doesn't do is to tell you what it looks like when it is cooked.

So please enlighten us, Oh worthy one - just what does it look like when cooked?