Furthermore, pufferfish have smooth, scaleless skin, though some species might have small, short spines. Porcupinefish, on the other hand, are the spiky little balloons most people picture.
There is no antidote for the toxin in pufferfish, and it's more potent than that of porcupinefish. They require a specially licensed chef to be handled safely.
Porcupinefish are much safer by comparison. From what he knew, the toxin was usually confined to the internal organs and gonads. In Japan and many other countries, they are often prepared as a delicacy in coastal cities.
But the problem was, relatively safe didn't mean completely safe.
Pufferfish toxin is lethal. Just 0.5 milligrams is enough to kill a person—that's like getting a tiny bit on your lips and dropping dead.
Therefore, it was best to use specialized tools for preparation, and during the process, one had to ensure the internal organs remained perfectly intact, without nicking even the slightest bit of their surface.
