We tend to take for granted just how safe most of our foods are, especially when we compare them to the foods that our ancestors consumed. Today, there are numerous governmental agencies that have strict regulations about the foods and products that we consume, and it’s rare to find a food designated as dangerous that’s being sold on shelves.
Sushi, for the most part, tends to be more than safe to eat for most people, and even more so in countries like the USA where the selling of sushi is heavily monitored and regulated by the FDA. But there are still some risks to eating sushi on a regular basis, which is why it’s a good idea to understand what those risks are and how they might affect a regular eater.
Raw Sushi
One of the more common concerns is that sushi contains raw fish, which means that there’s more risk to eating it. While it’s certainly true that some types of sushi are made using raw fish, the majority of sushi dishes are made with cooked fish that’s perfectly safe to consume, at least in terms of potential hazards, like parasites. Raw fish that’s used in sushi needs to be considered “sushi-grade”, which means that the fish must be sourced, processed, and stored in a way that makes it safe to eat.
Pathogens
Like any kind of raw meat, uncooked fish can contain certain pathogens that are potentially detrimental to a person’s health. One of the most common is anisakis, which is a disease that can cause long-term health problems and is commonly found in raw fish.
While this pathogen can be removed through careful inspection, some of it can remain. This is why it’s generally advised to either freeze or cook fish before using it for sushi, which is also a great excuse to sit back and catch up on a favourite TV show or games offered by NZ online casinos.
Another common issue is tapeworm, but the risk here is of a much lesser degree due to the fact that tapeworm is only found in freshwater fish, as the parasite is now able to live in saltwater fish.
Contaminants
Another issue when it comes to sushi is contamination, something that has become a lot more prevalent in recent years due to serious pollution in the ocean. One of the biggest concerns is mercury, a heavy metal that is able to bioaccumulate over time, with high concentrations in certain fish species.
This is why it’s important to know the kind of fish that you are eating. For example, cod, shrimp, and salmon contain extremely low amounts of mercury, and for the most part have been deemed safe to eat by most agencies around the world.
Final Thoughts
Despite what’s been brought up here, sushi is generally considered to be extremely safe to eat, and with proper food preparation, most kinds of fish are fine for consumption, which means that we can all enjoy sushi without worrying too much.