We’ve all been there. You’re ready to prepare dinner, then you realize something is wrong with one of the ingredients.
Maybe your tomatoes are a little mushier than you remembered. Maybe the person in charge of delivering your groceries decided to give you the most stepped-on onions of the bunch—or maybe your ground beef has gone from a nice pink to an absolutely-do-not-eat grey.
Over the years, numerous internet users have shared their pains of being in this position. Recently, another TikTok user recounted their own experience with an unexpected addition to their seafood—and it has the internet gagging.
What’s Going On With This Woman’s Sea Bass?
In a video with over 277,000 views, TikTok user Cassie Sumfest (@cassiesumfest) shows a package of Chilean Sea Bass she recently purchased from Whole Foods.
“Was gonna treat myself to sea bass tonight, but I guess not,” she writes in the text overlaying the video.
As she zooms in on the package, the problem with the sea bass is not with the fish itself, but with what has made its way out of it: a worm. It’s unclear if the worm is still alive.
“Most definitely not eating sea bass tonight,” the TikToker reiterates in the caption.
Sumfest later posted a follow-up video. In this video, she says she bought some fish from Whole Foods, only to discover later that it, too, had worms. What’s going on?
Is This Common?
Chilean Sea Bass is a market name for Patagonian toothfish. This fish, like many species of fish, is prone to parasites.
If seafood is properly cooked, these parasites, while gross, aren’t necessarily an issue. The CDC recommends cooking a fish to an internal temperature of at least 145° F, or around 63° C, to kill parasites. One can also freeze a fish for -4°F (-20°C) or lower for 7 days, or at a lower temperature for less time.
Still, many fish producers realize that, even if properly preparing a fish eliminates the risk of parasite problems, many people want to consume their fish raw—or simply don’t want to look at a worm when they’re preparing their dish.
That’s why producers make a considerable effort to remove all parasites from filets. Even though parasites are very common in wild-caught fish—one study found that every single surveyed wild-caught salmon was infected with parasites—producers will still try their best to extract parasites and prevent them from getting into packaged filets.
What Should She Do Now?
As a result, it’s not surprising that many are shocked when they find parasites in their filets. In Sumfest’s case, she can simply take advantage of Whole Foods’ return policy. The company says they “[guarantee] 100% customer satisfaction on every product we sell.” If a product does not meet the customer’s standards, they can often exchange it or receive a refund.
For the time being, however, it looks like Sumfest will need to find something else to eat for dinner. In a comment, Sumfest stated that she was able to get a refund from Whole Foods.
Viewers Are Disgusted, But Not Surprised
In the comments section, many users shared in Sumfest’s disgust.
“I wouldn’t be able to eat ANYTHING for at least 24 hours,” a user wrote.
“Id be more annoyed i have to go back to the [expletive] store now,” another joked.
However, many noted that this was incredibly common for wild-caught fish.
“I’ve got some bad news for you about fish, friend,” a commenter shared.
“Most, if not all Fresh fish will have parasite. you pull them out and cook to temp and you will be fine,” offered a second.
@cassiesumfest Most definetly not eating sea bass tonight #foryoupage #foryou #seabass
BroBible reached out to Whole Foods via email and Sumfest via email and Instagram direct message.