Food Vlogger Emma Amit Dies After Eating Poisonous Devil Crab in Palawan, Philippines

Food Vlogger Emma Amit Dies After Eating Poisonous Devil Crab in Palawan, Philippines

A Filipino food content creator has died after eating a highly toxic type of crab while filming content for her social media followers. Emma Amit, 51, passed away on February 6, 2026, just two days after she cooked and consumed what turned out to be deadly devil crabs in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about the dangers of extreme food content creation.

The Deadly Meal That Took Emma's Life

On February 4, Emma went out with friends to hunt for shellfish and crabs in a mangrove forest near her seaside home. The group collected various types of seafood, which Emma then cooked in coconut milk—a popular Filipino cooking method.

She filmed the entire process, showing her followers how she prepared the fresh catch. In the video, Emma appeared happy and excited as she tasted the food. She even mentioned how good it tasted, eating more rice to go with the dish.

But what looked like regular crabs turned out to be something far more dangerous.

How the Tragedy Unfolded

The next day, Emma's condition took a sharp turn for the worse. Neighbors noticed something was seriously wrong when she started having violent convulsions. Her lips turned dark blue, and she struggled to breathe.

Family members rushed her to a local health center first, but when her condition continued getting worse, they transferred her to a hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Emma remained unconscious. She died on February 6 from what doctors confirmed was severe neurotoxin poisoning.

A friend who shared the meal with Emma also died from the same cause, though their identity has not been publicly released.

What Are Devil Crabs?

Image: Patrick Randall

The crabs Emma ate are scientifically called Zosimus aeneus, but locals know them by a much more frightening name: devil crabs. These creatures live on coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region and look very similar to regular edible crabs.

Their shells are usually dark reddish-brown or cream-colored with red or brown patches. This bright coloring should serve as a warning, but many people mistake them for safe species like alimango (mud crabs).

The real danger lies in what's inside. Devil crabs carry two powerful neurotoxins: tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin. These are the same deadly compounds found in pufferfish and certain shellfish that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Why Cooking Doesn't Help

Here's what makes devil crabs especially dangerous: heat can't destroy these toxins. No matter how long you cook them or what temperature you use, the poison remains fully active.

This differs from many food safety issues where proper cooking kills bacteria or breaks down harmful substances. With devil crabs, boiling, frying, or grilling does absolutely nothing to make them safer.

According to marine biology experts, these toxins can cause complete respiratory failure within hours of consumption. There's no known antidote, which is why half of all devil crab poisoning cases in the Philippines end in death.

The Evidence Found at Emma's Home

After Emma's death, village officials went to her house to investigate. Laddy Gemang, the chief of Luzviminda village, led the investigation team.

"I saw the shells, there were around eight," Gemang told reporters. "I don't know if all of them were devil crabs, but they all looked alike."

The bright-colored shells scattered among her trash confirmed what had happened. Emma had prepared and eaten multiple devil crabs, unaware of the lethal danger.

Questions About How This Happened

What puzzles local officials most is that Emma and her husband were both experienced fishers. They'd spent their entire lives living by the sea and making a living from it.

"This is really saddening because they should have known," Gemang said. "She and her husband, they are both fisherfolk. 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? That is what I'm confused about."

Some possible explanations include:

• The crabs looked too similar to safe species
• The excitement of creating content may have clouded judgment
• She might have been unaware these specific crabs had been caught
• Pressure to create interesting content may have led to taking risks

Whatever the reason, the result was the same devastating outcome.

Emma's Life as a Content Creator

Emma had built a following of over a thousand people who enjoyed watching her fishing adventures and cooking videos. Her content focused on life in coastal Palawan, showing the simple pleasures of catching fresh seafood and preparing meals for her family.

Friends described her as having a bright personality and positive energy. Her videos felt natural and relatable, like watching a friend cook rather than a polished production.

Beverly Villanueva, one of Emma's close friends, shared an emotional tribute online: "Your sudden passing is so shocking and sudden. You were like an older sister who always told me what food you wanted me to buy. I will miss you always. I know you didn't want to leave yet because you still had so many plans in life, but why?"

Official Warnings to the Public

Following Emma's death, local officials have issued urgent warnings to residents of Puerto Princesa and other coastal areas.

"To the residents of Puerto Princesa, I am urging you to be doubly vigilant," Chief Gemang stated. "Do not eat these dangerous devil crabs because they have claimed two lives here in our town. Don't gamble with your lives."

This wasn't the first death from devil crabs in the area. A 54-year-old fisherman died from the same cause in October last year, making Emma's death the second in just a few months.

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has also stepped in with an official warning. Their statement was clear and direct: "This species should never be handled or consumed under any circumstances. It is not a 'delicacy,' it is a biological hazard."

The Broader Issue of Risky Content Creation

Emma's death adds to a growing list of content creators who have died while making food-related videos. The pressure to create interesting, unique content sometimes leads people to take dangerous risks.

In recent years, several other food influencers have died from similar causes:

• A Chinese mukbang streamer died during a live broadcast from overeating in July 2024
• Turkish TikTok creator Efecan Kultur died from obesity-related complications in March 2025 after posting extreme eating videos

While these cases differ in specific circumstances, they all point to the same problem: the drive for views and engagement can push creators past safe boundaries.

How to Stay Safe Around Seafood

Marine safety experts offer these tips for anyone collecting or eating seafood:

Know what you're catching: Never eat any marine animal unless you're 100% certain it's safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

Look for warning signs: Bright colors on crabs or unusual patterns often indicate danger. Nature uses these colors as warnings.

Ask local experts: Before eating any unusual catch, check with experienced fishermen or local authorities who know the area's marine life.

Research before you cook: Take time to identify species properly. A quick internet search could save your life.

Don't take risks for content: No video, photo, or social media post is worth your life.

The Investigation Continues

Local authorities are still looking into exactly how the devil crabs ended up in Emma's catch and why they weren't recognized before cooking. They're also monitoring anyone else who may have eaten seafood from the same gathering for any signs of poisoning.

The community has been asked to report any similar incidents immediately and to avoid consuming any unfamiliar seafood, especially crabs with bright coloring or unusual patterns.

A Tragic Loss for the Community

Emma's death has hit her community hard. She was known as someone who brought joy to people through her simple, honest approach to sharing coastal life.

Her social media pages remain a testament to her love for the sea, her family, and the traditional fishing lifestyle she documented. Many of her followers have left messages expressing shock and sadness at losing someone who felt like a friend.

The tragedy serves as a painful reminder that some traditions and practices carried down through generations need to be taken seriously. The knowledge that certain marine creatures are deadly exists for good reason.

Final Thoughts

Emma Amit's death is a heartbreaking example of how quickly things can go wrong, even for experienced people who know the sea. The devil crab looks harmless enough to fool even seasoned fishers, making it one of the most dangerous creatures in Philippine waters.

For anyone living near the coast or creating content about food and foraging, this story carries an important message: always double-check what you're about to eat. Research unfamiliar species. Ask questions. Take the extra time to be sure.

No meal, no matter how delicious it looks in a video, is worth the ultimate price Emma paid. Her memory should remind all of us that nature deserves our respect and caution, especially when it comes to what we put in our bodies.

The residents of Puerto Princesa and surrounding areas now face the task of spreading awareness about devil crabs to prevent future tragedies. Emma's story, tragic as it is, may save lives if it helps others recognize and avoid these deadly creatures.