Food vlogger dies after ‘eating toxic devil crab for social media video’
A food vlogger has died after consuming a highly poisonous devil crab while filming a social media video.
Emma Amit, 51, reportedly ate the toxic crustacean at her seaside home in Palawan province, Philippines, and collapsed shortly afterward. She passed away two days later.
Footage shows Emma and friends hunting shellfish and crabs in a mangrove forest near her Puerto Princesa home on February 4. In the video, she is seen enjoying a bite of sea snail while cooking the seafood in a large pot of coconut milk.
Emma reportedly became gravely ill the following day as neurotoxins from the crab entered her bloodstream. Neighbors said she was convulsing when taken to a local health center and was later rushed to a hospital after her condition worsened, with her lips turning dark blue. Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead on February 6.
Authorities have since warned residents near the sea to avoid consuming unfamiliar seafood.
Laddy Gemang, chief of Luzviminda village, said he was shocked by Emma’s death, noting that both she and her husband were experienced fishers. “This is really saddening because they should have known. She and her husband live by the sea and should have recognized the danger of these devil crabs. So why did she eat it? That is what confuses me,” he said.
Village officers investigated Emma’s home and reportedly found the brightly colored shells of several devil crabs in her trash. “I saw around eight shells. I don’t know if all were devil crabs, but they looked similar. I urge residents to be extremely careful—these crabs have claimed lives in our town. Don’t gamble with your safety,” Gemang added.
Officials are monitoring Emma’s friends for similar symptoms.
In a tribute, Emma’s friend Beverly Villanueva wrote: “Your sudden passing is shocking. You were like an older sister who always guided me about food. I will miss you always. You had so many plans in life, and now it’s hard to understand why you had to leave.”
Local media reported that a 54-year-old fisherman in Palawan also died from eating devil crabs last October.
Devil crabs, also called toxic reef crabs, are found on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific. Their flesh and shells contain potent neurotoxins—tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin—that remain dangerous even after cooking. The crabs are usually dark reddish-brown or cream with striking red or brown patches.
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