Raw fish consumption linked to parasitic infection risk
This is an editorial summary of research originally reported by Food Safety News. ProductSafer does not claim ownership of the underlying research. All intellectual property belongs to the original publishers.
Raw fish dishes like sushi and ceviche can expose you to parasitic infections that cause stomach pain, nausea, and digestive problems. Freezing fish to very low temperatures kills most parasites, so choosing frozen raw fish over fresh is safer when eating these dishes.
Raw fish dishes like sushi and ceviche carry a risk of parasitic infection. These parasites can cause stomach pain, nausea, and digestive problems that may last for weeks or longer. The risk comes from eating fish that hasn't been properly treated to kill parasites before serving.
Researchers have found that freezing fish to very low temperatures is an effective way to eliminate most parasites. The freezing process kills the organisms that would otherwise survive in raw fish. This means frozen raw fish is generally safer to eat than fresh raw fish when it comes to parasitic infection.
If you enjoy raw fish dishes, you can reduce your risk by choosing restaurants and stores that use frozen fish. Ask your sushi restaurant or fishmonger whether their raw fish has been frozen according to food safety standards. You can also prepare raw fish at home using frozen fish from the supermarket rather than fresh fish from the counter.
What you can doAI-generated
- ✓Switch to frozen fish when you eat sushi or ceviche instead of fresh. Freezing kills the parasites that cause weeks of stomach pain and nausea.
- ✓Ask your sushi restaurant or fishmonger directly if their raw fish has been frozen to food safety standards. Don't assume anything about how it was handled.
- ✓Buy frozen fish from the supermarket if you're making ceviche or sushi at home. Thaw it in the fridge before using it.
- ✓Avoid eating raw fish at places that won't tell you whether it's been frozen. If they can't answer the question, find somewhere else to eat.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
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