Puffer Fish Sold as Salmon

[FreeTime]

Apparently vendors and restaurants in Thailand continue to sell the potentially deadly puffer fish as 'salmon':

 

http://www.newstin.com/tag/us/21280327

or

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/197939.php

 

[Guy Himmaparn]

I don't recall ever seeing it on a menu in Thailand, and neither article provides any specific information as to where it was served.

 

 

 

 

[FreeTime]

I only remember seeing it once at a buffet in Bangkok. There were English labels on all the dishes, so possibly there was a translation issue as well. It had the appearance of salmon, and tasted like salmon, but maybe I just got lucky.

 

[cavanami]

Looks nothing like salmon!

The real "Japanese" puffer fish (fugu) is almost a clear meat, not a red colored meat like salmon.

[FreeTime]

What I meant is that I have only noticed salmon being served once while in Thailand. I believe there was some reference to dye being added to the flesh to make it resemble the pink/red flesh of the salmon.

 

 

[Torneyboy]

Sounds like you may have..

[cavanami]

Nahhhh, big visual difference between salom and fugu.

 

Like steak and pork chop, or something like that.

[..]

And why on Earth would someone sell a fish that is more expensive (fugu) for one that is common (salmon)?

 

Cheers,

SD

[FreeTime]

According to the links, the sale of puffer fish has been banned since 2002 in Thailand. I suppose some fisherman continue to supply them to vendors who then dye the flesh and sell it into the Thai marketplace as 'salmon'? The sale & preparation of this fish is tightly regulated in Japan I understand.

 

 

[cavanami]

...and the price of fugu is quite high!

As SuaDum mentioned, why sell the expensive fugu as cheap salmon?

TIT