Monsters Inside Me : Menu Items Containing Parasites : Animal Planet

Menu Items Most Likely to Contain Parasites

By Robert Lamb, HowStuffWorks.com

HowStuffWorks

Want to learn a little more before exploring the exciting world of sushi? Read all about sushi at HowStuffWorks.com.

4. SUSHI AND SASHIMI

The world's oceans are teaming with delicious life forms. The problem is that many of those life forms are home to parasites. You can eliminate the risk of infection by simply cooking your seafood thoroughly. Alternately, you can freeze the fish for a week or cure it in saturated salt brine for five to seven days.

Sadly, each of these techniques can leave sushi enthusiasts in the lurch. The whole point to sushi, after all, is to appreciate the taste and texture of fresh, raw seafood. The two problem worms to consider before dining on uncooked fruit of the sea are the Anisakidae nematode roundworms and the Diphyllobothrium tapeworm.

Of these, the roundworm is the most common. If ingested, you might not even notice it or suffer any symptoms. However, the worm can "tickle" your throat on the way down, and if it bores into your stomach lining, it can cause severe abdominal inflammation and pain within an hour of ingestion. Luckily, these pesky parasites don't survive longer than 10 days in the human digestive track.

The Diphyllobothrium tapeworm is common in salmon, as well as other saltwater fish that also frequent fresh water. These freeloaders can thrive in the human gut for years, causing abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss and anemia. Luckily, they can be eradicated through medical treatment.

To avoid risking a mouthful of spicy nematode roll or tapeworm sashimi, stick to reputable restaurants that follow food safety guidelines. If you're still feeling a bit paranoid, ask whether the fish has been previously frozen or stick to the many sushi options that either involve cooked or vegetarian ingredients.

Still hungry? Choose your next meal wisely:

5. Escargot Hungry for hot-buttered snails? Remember that a snail's diet can include parasite-rich fecal matter and carrion.		4. Sushi and Sashimi If you enjoy eating fresh, uncooked fish, just be prepared to eat whatever else has been living inside of it.
3. Steak Tartare What's this, more raw meat? Do you see a pattern forming here? Yes, even classy food can make you sick.		2. Pink Hamburger of Doom The low-rent option of consuming raw meat is, not surprisingly, even more likely to fill you full of parasites.
1. Ham and Pork Sandwiches Interestingly enough, one of the more statistically risky menu items isn't even raw. See what you might be signing up for when you eat pork.

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