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Food Safety Focus (123rd Issue, October 2016) – Incident in Focus
Parasites in Fish for Raw Consumption
Dr. Fiona FONG, Research Officer
Risk Assessment Section,
Centre for Food Safety
In September 2016, a local newspaper reported the presence of worm-like substances in a type of fish sushi sold at a local supermarket. In August, The New England Journal of Medicine reported a case in Japan that multiple larvae of the parasite Anisakis were found penetrating into the mucosa of the stomach of a woman who had history of consuming raw salmon two hours before the onset of chest and abdominal pain. Both reports aroused public attention. This article discusses the risk of parasites in fish and control measures for parasites in fish that is intended for raw consumption.
Parasites can also be found in marine fish and seafood such as salmon and tuna
Parasites in Fish
Consuming uncooked or undercooked seafood that harbouring parasites can present a human health hazard. It has been well known locally that raw freshwater fish such as grass carp and big head carp may carry Chinese liver fluke which can cause obstruction, inflammation and cancer of the biliary ducts in the livers of humans. However, the public appears to be less alert to the risk of parasites in marine fish including salmon and tuna and other kinds of seafood.
Among parasites, roundworms, tapeworms and flukes are of most concern in seafood. Some of these parasites cause mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal symptoms. Allergic reactions with rash and itching can also occur. In more severe and complicated cases, apart from causing diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort, some parasites such as lung flukes may migrate to other vital organs in humans (e.g. lungs), resulting in serious complications.
Anisakidae are one of the important fish-transmitted foodborne roundworms found in marine fish, crustaceans (e.g. shrimp) and cephalopods (e.g. squid). Humans may get parasitic infection (e.g. anisakiasis) if they consume raw or undercooked infected fish or other infected fishery products.
Control Measures
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, parasites are more likely to be present in wild-caught fish and certain aquaculture fish if they are not exclusively fed on diets free of parasites. The Codex Alimentarius Commission also indicated that using raw fish as feed and contaminated water for aquaculture fish farming are risk factors for parasitic infections. As the environment of wild fish cannot be controlled, measures have to be taken at a later stage of the food chain, e.g. processing of fish that will be consumed raw or served undercooked. As for aquaculture fish, a good parasite control programme can reduce the risk of parasitic infections.
The European Food Safety Authority clearly indicates that traditional marinating and cold smoking methods are not sufficient to kill fishery parasites; and freezing and heat treatments, under well-defined condition, remain the most effective processes for killing parasitic larvae. The Codex Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products states that freezing at –20°C or below for seven days or at –35°C for about 20 hours for fish intended for raw consumption can kill parasites.
Key Points to Note
- Besides fresh water fish, parasites can also be found in marine fish including salmon and tuna and other seafood.
- The best way to prevent parasitic infections from fish is to avoid eating raw or undercooked fish.
- Freezing and heat treatments, under well-defined condition, are the most effective ways of killing parasites in fish.
Advice to the Public
- Purchase fish from reliable and licensed premises.
- Susceptible populations, including the elderly, young children,pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are not advised to consume raw fish.
Advice to the Trade
- Obtain relevant licence/permit from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for manufacturing and/or sale of sushi and sashimi.
- Freeze fish that is intended for raw consumption at –20°C or below for seven days or at –35°C for about 20 hours as control measures to minimize the risk of parasites.
- Buy fish from reliable sources and obtain health certificates issued by relevant authority of the exporting countries.
- Restaurants selling raw fish and seafood can display copies of appropriate health certificates, which include an attestation of how the products have been handled and processed, in accordance with certain requirements (e.g. Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 , Codex Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products ).