As the saying goes: "Give up the pig, give up the cow, but never give up the chicken head." Many people consider chicken heads, duck heads, etc., to be delicacies. But have you ever heard of this old saying?—"A ten-year-old chicken head is as potent as arsenic." So, is the "chicken head" edible or not?
From a nutritional perspective, chicken heads and duck heads do not contain better nutrients than other parts of the bird, and the brain marrow in chicken and duck brains contains more cholesterol. Secondly, during the pecking process, chickens ingest a considerable amount of substances containing harmful heavy metals. These heavy metals are primarily stored in the chicken's brain tissue. The older the chicken, the greater the accumulation and the stronger the toxicity. This is the origin of the saying, "A ten-year-old chicken head is as potent as arsenic." Of course, chickens and ducks raised nowadays are not that old, but it is still wise to be cautious when eating the head.
What about fish and shrimp heads? Modern scientific research has found that fish contain two types of unsaturated fatty acids, DHA and EPA. These two unsaturated fatty acids are very beneficial for clearing and softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, and for brain health and anti-aging. The content of DHA and EPA in fish oil is higher than in fish meat, and fish oil is relatively concentrated in the fish head. In this sense, eating more fish heads is indeed beneficial to human health.
Under normal circumstances, there are no toxins in fish heads, and eating them is safe. However, due to the deterioration of the overall environment in recent years, leading to pollution of water bodies and the ecological food chain, coupled with some aquaculture operators adding chemicals to feed, the level of harmful substances in fish can increase and be difficult to expel. These substances may accumulate in the fish head. To ensure food safety, consumers should try to purchase fresh fish and other aquatic products from regular, supervised markets. Additionally, when eating fish heads, choose formal restaurants and try to avoid ordering them from roadside stalls.
Furthermore, fish heads contain a large number of parasites. Fish heads must be thoroughly cooked, and this is especially important when eating hot pot.