In an unfortunate incident, a food vlogger recently died after eating a dangerous type of crab while filming for her social media. She had recorded herself cooking the crab in coconut milk and eating it for her followers on TikTok and Facebook. Here’s all you need to know!
Food Vlogger Dies After Eating Dangerous Crab
Emma Amit, a 51-year-old food vlogger, visited a mangrove forest near Puerto Princesa, Palawan, with friends on February 4, 2025, to harvest shellfish. While filming, she ate a specific type of crab known as Devil Crabs. As per NDTV, the next day, she became severely ill, experiencing convulsions and darkening of her lips before losing consciousness.
She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors tried to save her, but she passed away on February 6, just two days after consuming the shellfish. Investigators later found brightly colored devil crab shells in her trash, pointing to the likely cause of her fatal poisoning.
Laddy Gemang, the chief of the village of Luzviminda, expressed shock and sadness at Emma’s death. He noted that Emma and her husband were experienced fishers and should have known about the dangers of the crab. He also added that, living by the sea, she should have known how deadly these devil crabs are.
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What Are Devil Crabs?
Devil crabs, also called toxic reef crabs, live on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region. They have strong neurotoxins such as saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin. These are the same toxins found in pufferfish. As per experts, these crabs may look harmless, but in reality, their toxins are deadly.
It’s common for toxins in some creatures to break down with heat, but that is not the case with devil crabs. According to NDTV, the Smithsonian Institution confirms that the toxins in these crabs are not destroyed by cooking. Even a small amount can be fatal, and experts strongly advise against consuming them under any circumstances.
Next time you go on an adventure, make sure to eat with caution!
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Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr/ Patrick Randall