A 51-year-old food influencer in the Philippines met a heartbreaking end after eating a toxic “devil crab” for social media content.
Emma Amit collapsed at her seaside home in Palawan province on February, shortly after filming herself consuming shellfish gathered from a mangrove forest near Puerto Princesa.
According to New York Times, Amit and her friends foraged for the crabs and cooked them in coconut milk for her video.
She sampled the dish on camera, but her health rapidly declined as her lips turned dark blue and she fell unconscious.
She was rushed to a hospital where medics fought to save her, but she passed away two days after consuming the meal.
Village chief Laddy Gemang sent officials to investigate the scene, finding the vibrant shells of “devil crabs” in her trash.
These brightly colored crabs are notoriously poisonous, packing potent neurotoxins that cause paralysis and death.
Gemang was stunned by the tragedy, stating, “This is really saddening because they should have known. They live by the sea, so I know they know about this devil crab that’s dangerous to eat. So why did she eat it?”
Amit, a seasoned fisher alongside her husband, appeared to overlook the risks in pursuit of viral fame.
Friends described her death as “shocking and sudden,” while netizens remain split between blaming influencer culture and natural hazards.
This is not an isolated incident, as food challenges have claimed lives before.
In July 2024, a Chinese mukbang streamer died mid-broadcast from overeating, and in March 2025, 24-year-old Turkish TikTokker Efecan Kultur succumbed to obesity complications following his eating videos.
Later in 2025, Russian coach Dmitry Nuyanzin also perished attempting a 10,000-calorie daily “weight-loss” stunt.