Authorities issue urgent warning as food blogger dies after eating ‘devil crab’

A warning has been issued after a food influencer died from eating a ‘devil crab’.

Food vlogger Emma Amit, 51, died in hospital two days after she filmed herself eating the crustacean, officially known as the Zosimus aeneus crab.

She uploaded a video on social media on February 4 showing her hunting the poisonous crabs and other shellfish and snails close to her seaside home in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

After catching one of the crabs, known locally by the terrifying nickname ‘devil crab’, she filmed herself cooking and eating it from the pot.

The video is no longer available to view.

Barangay Chief Laddy Gemang told Philippine news outlet ABS-CBN that Amit lost consciousness soon after eating the crab, and was rushed to hospital. The content creator died two days later on February 6.

Sadly, her friend who also ate the crab died as well.

Emma Amit filmed as she prepared the devil crab and other shellfish and snails (Emma Amit/Facebook)

According to the local news outlet, officials who visited Amit’s home to investigate her death found seven crab shells.

The Zosimus aeneus crab carries a potent mix of toxins that can be deadly when eaten. It’s regarded as the most poisonous crab in the Phillippines, with reported death rates of up to 50 percent in cases of poisoning.

The species can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, iNaturalist explains.

After Amit’s tragic death, locals are being urged to be vigilant of the poisonous crabs.

“Be careful not to eat this devil crab because it is deadly,” Gemang told ABS-CBN. “It is very dangerous to eat this type of crab because it can kill you in a matter of hours.”

This comes after four people died and three others have been left in need of liver transplants after eating death cap mushrooms in California, US.

The fungi, which is known to cause severe vomiting and stomach pain in sufferers, and death, closely resemble edible varieties.

Death cap mushroom (Getty Stock Image)

People who eat the mushrooms usually begin showing signs of acute liver injury before liver failure, with a number of patients requiring to be admitted to the intensive care unit for life-saving treatment.

The number of people mistaking deadly death cap mushrooms for edible ones is rapidly rising. This case of mistaken identity has caused more than three dozen people to become poisoned, per the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), since November 18.

From November onwards, 39 people were poisoned in California and four people passed away, with the CDPH stating: “California is experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of severe illness and deaths associated with people accidentally picking and eating Death Cap mushrooms.”