They made it safe, so why is fugu liver still banned?

Aaahh fugu… For some it is the fish that reminds them of the famous line from The Simpsons:

“Master, we need your skilled hands”

However, if anyone ever felt like eating potentially lethal seafood, then fugu or pufferfish does the job. In the modern world, multiple deaths a year from eating your fare might seem like a potential publicity disaster, but they have found a way to make the deadly sea-dwelling creatures entirely safe, including the deadliest part, the liver. This should make the legalization of the sale of fugu liver easier, right?

Wrong! According to the NY Times, the Vice President of the National Fugu Association, they will not approve the legalization of the sale of fugu livers. The fugu livers are said to taste as good as, or even better than foie gras, without the force-feeding the goose livers require and they are a healthier option being full of Omega 3 fatty acids.

So why will the National Fugu Association not allow the legal sale of the livers? Officially speaking, it’s because the livers are still far too dangerous. Unofficially, it is suspected that they don’t want to lose their stranglehold on the industry. If farmed and entirely harmless fugu liver became available, it is said that the Association could no longer control its sale and distribution.

Should the fugu liver ban continue? Have you ever tried the dangerous fish?