Unlike other meats, it’s usually OK to eat raw fish—emphasis on “usually.”
As with all foods, there are some dangers that one has to look out for if they choose to eat raw fish. For example, there’s a risk of food poisoning, and there’s always a chance that improper storage has left the fish unsafe to eat.
That said, most people are willing to roll the dice in order to enjoy some sushi, ceviche, or other raw fish dish. But if you’re going to prepare fish yourself, there are some things you should know—like that it’s often filled with worms.
What’s Crawling Around This Salmon?
In a video with over 807,000 views, TikToker Dr. Joe, MD (@drjoe_md) overlays himself on a video originally posted by user Ryan Martin (@ryanaustinmartin).
Martin’s video shows himself standing next to a Traeger grill. On the table is a bunch of raw salmon that he’s prepared to cook.
“I’m about to make some salmon. I got all this set up, grill is smoking,” Martin starts.
However, after looking closely at the salmon, he notices something is amiss. There’s not one, but several small worms crawling all over his meat.
“This is wild-caught, fresh salmon,” he says, in shock.
At this point, Dr. Joe jumps in.
“What you’re most likely seeing here are anisakid worms, and they’re a common parasite in raw salmon,” Dr. Joe explains. “In fact, they’re actually more common in wild-caught salmon, because the wild salmon eat infected prey in the ocean, whereas farm-raised salmon usually are fed controlled diets.”
What You Should Know About Parasites And Salmon
Dr. Joe is correct that parasites are common in wild-caught salmon—but even the biggest raw fish lover may be shocked to learn just how common these parasites are.
In 2019, the CBC reported that around 75% of wild Pacific salmon have parasites. Other estimates say that 90% of all wild-caught fish are thought to contain either parasites or parasite eggs.
While this may sound gross, it’s thankfully not as big of a deal as it might appear on the surface.
“Proper cooking kills them. And, freezing can kill them too, which is why fish that’s meant to be eaten raw is usually frozen first,” explains Dr. Joe.
“The problem is somebody eats infected salmon raw or undercooked, which can cause anisakiasis, where the larva can burrow into the wall of the stomach or intestine and trigger severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and inflammation,” Dr. Joe continues.
This is also true. Treatment for this generally requires surgery or another invasive procedure.
How To Prevent Parasites
One can kill parasites in raw fish themselves. To do this, the CDC recommends cooking the meat. Seafood is safe after it has reached an internal temperature of at least 145° F, or around 63° C.
Alternatively, as stated by Dr. Joe, one can freeze the fish. Most fish you purchase in the store have likely been frozen once already. Still, if you want to ensure all parasites are dead, you should, per the CDC, store the fish “at -4°F (-20°C) or below for 7 days (total time).” This is a slightly lower temperature than most standard freezers, so one may have to adjust their freezer settings for the best results.
Once a parasite is dead, it is safe to eat—even if it’s not exactly pleasant to look at.
@drjoe_md Parasites in salmon are more common than most people realize, especially in wild-caught fish. While definitely disgusting to see, proper cooking and proper freezing are highly effective at killing these parasites and making the fish safe to eat. The biggest risk comes from eating infected salmon raw or undercooked, which can sometimes lead to anisakiasis, a condition where the larvae can burrow into the stomach or intestinal wall and cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and inflammation. Would you still eat the salmon after seeing this? 🤢 #Salmon #FoodSafety #MedicalFacts #LearnOnTikTok
Commenters Aren’t Surprised
In the comments section, users were disgusted—but not exactly shocked by the presence of parasites.
“I thought everyone knew that salmon had worms,” a user wrote.
“This is why I stopped eating fish,” declared another.
“Cake would never do this to me,” a third joked.
“I need the internet to stop trying to ruin food for me,” a further TikToker stated.
BroBible reached out to Martin via email and Instagram direct message, and Dr. Joe via email and Instagram direct message.