Does Tuna Have Parasites? Yes, Here's How to Make it Safe to Eat

Raw fish isn’t immune to parasites and may contain parasites if not treated properly. Some parasites can cause diseases in humans, so it doesn’t hurt to do your research before buying fish.

Parasites are of a wide variety and carry different diseases depending on the type. Raw fish that contains parasites can cause vomiting, nausea, fever, diarrhea, and trigger other foodborne diseases in humans.

A study conducted on the Pacific Bluefin tuna found in Japanese waters showed that 64% of the fish were reported to be infected with a parasite that can trigger diarrhea in humans.

Similarly, another study took samples of the yellowfin and Bluefin tuna from the Pacific waters and examined them thoroughly. It was revealed that the samples contained parasites that could lead to food poisoning in humans.

In addition to these studies, there were samples of fish caught from the waters off the coast of Iran. These fish samples contained parasites that could infect the human stomach and intestines.

Moreover, the risk and nature of parasitic infection also depend on the waters where the fish was obtained.

But these infections are still pretty rare as the fish is sent for proper treatment and processing after being caught.

There are numerous ways fish are processed to kill any parasites present in them.

Most of the time, getting rid of parasites in tuna meat is very easy. Killing parasites requires proper treatment and handling.

Most parasites cannot survive when the tuna is cooked or frozen. Therefore, if you want to avoid getting sick because of potential parasites, cook the fish properly or buy frozen tuna meat.

Cooking tuna fish also lowers your chances of contracting any food borne diseases. However, that doesn’t mean you must stop eating raw tuna because you fear parasites.

Does freezing kill parasites in tuna?

According to the Food and Drug Administration, freezing tuna kills the parasites in tuna. Raw tuna can be frozen in three ways to ensure no parasites remain.

What temperature kills parasites in tuna?

Firstly, the raw fish can be frozen at -4 degrees Fahrenheit for a week to kill any parasites. Another way to kill parasites is by freezing the raw tuna at -31 degrees Fahrenheit or below for 15 hours.

Similarly, you can freeze the tuna at -31 degrees Fahrenheit and store it at -4 degrees Fahrenheit for a day.

Moreover, keep in mind that frozen tuna meat needs to be defrosted in the refrigerator itself before it is taken out for eating.

Freezing your tuna this way is a suitable and commonly practiced method to kill parasites in the meat.

However, there might be some risk that remains after all these precautions. But most restaurants and sushi bars in the US are very meticulous about their tuna selection and follow the guidelines prepared by the FDA.

If you’re still not sure about the credibility of the tuna served to you, don’t hesitate to ask for more information regarding the meat.

To be safe, if you’re eating raw tuna, ensure you do so at well-reputed restaurants only or you know the tuna the local restaurant is serving are safe to eat, no one felt sick from eating at the restaurant.

If you want to prepare a raw tuna dish at home, make sure you buy from a well-known and trusted fishmonger regarding their knowledge of the tuna’s origin and treatment.

Marine fishing can come with its own risk of parasites in seafood such as tuna and salmon. The most common type of parasites in seafood consists of roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes.

Conclusion

Some parasites can carry mild to moderate infections in the body. However, in most cases, parasites in fish meat can be eliminated by cooking and flash freezing.