Food vlogger dies after eating poisonous “devil crab” for viral clip

Officials in the Philippines are warning people to be careful after a food blogger allegedly died shortly after consuming a poisonous crab, often called a “devil crab” by locals.

Emma Amit, 51, sadly passed away after collapsing at her home in Palawan. Reports indicate she had filmed herself eating shellfish she collected before the incident, and she died two days later.

I saw this incredible video online! Apparently, on February 4th, Amit was near Puerto Princesa with some friends, and they were collecting crabs and shellfish in a mangrove forest. She actually cooked what they found right there, using coconut milk, and then filmed herself trying it – it looked so good!

She became seriously ill the next day. Witnesses say her lips turned blue as her health rapidly declined, and she was quickly taken to the hospital. Sadly, she passed away on February 6th, despite receiving medical care.

Food influencer dies days after eating “devil crab”

Officials think she might have eaten a type of local crab, sometimes called a “devil crab,” that contains dangerous poisons affecting the nervous system.

Laddy Gemang, the village leader of Luzviminda, expressed shock at Amit’s death, considering his history.

It’s just so heartbreaking, because they really should have known better. She and her husband are both fishermen, they live right by the ocean! They absolutely knew about that dangerous crab – the one you shouldn’t eat. So I honestly don’t understand why she ate it. It’s just so confusing to me.

Gemang cautioned locals against eating any seafood they didn’t recognize, noting that people in the region had previously died from similar cases.

To the people of Puerto Princesa: Please be extra careful! There have been two deaths in our city from eating dangerous devil crabs, so please don’t risk your health by eating them.

Coastal residents are being advised to only eat seafood if they know it’s safe to do so.

The recent death of Amit highlights a troubling pattern: an increasing number of content creators are dying while attempting dangerous food-related challenges.

In July 2024, a Chinese mukbang streamer died during a live broadcast after overeating.

It’s really sad, but I recently found out that Efecan Kultur, a TikToker from Turkey who was only 24, passed away in March 2025. Apparently, he’d been struggling with health issues related to obesity for a while, and it ended up being the cause. It’s especially tough because he’d been posting videos of himself eating just months before he died. It just makes you think, you know?

In late 2025, Russian fitness coach Dmitry Nuyanzin tragically died while trying to lose weight. He was attempting a challenge where he ate 10,000 calories daily as part of his fitness program.

Food videos are still incredibly popular on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, but authorities are cautioning viewers that these viral clips can be dangerous, particularly when they feature wild or unusual foods.

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2026-02-11 21:19