Sannakji: World's Scariest Food

Sannakji is a variety of hoe, or raw dish, in Korean cuisine. It consists of live nakji, a small octopus that has been cut into small pieces and served immediately, usually lightly seasoned with sesame and sesame oil. The nakji pieces are usually still squirming on the plate. It can also be served whole.

The pieces of sannakji are still moving on the plate when served, and since the suction cups are still active, care must be taken when swallowing or else the pieces can get stuck in the mouth or esophogus. The pieces must be chewed thoroughly before swallowing to prevent choking.

In Korea and other parts of Asia, sannakji is considered a delicacy and is eaten by most of the population. It is also eaten in parts of the United States, particularly Hawaii, Washington and Oregon. However, there is some controversy regarding the eating of octopus, since octopus is considered to be one of the most intelligent invertebrates, with IQs estimated to equal that of a common house cat.

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