A TikToker who posts under the name @msrachellyn recently posted something surprising they spotted in packages of fresh salmon at Costco. Tiny, translucent worms wriggling around inside the packaging. (Warning: If you’re easily grossed out, you may want to avoid watching the video.)
This isn’t the first time the issue has popped up on social media—similar videos have made the rounds in the past—so it seems this scenario isn’t all that uncommon. Still, worm salmon is a sight nobody wants to see. We checked in with an expert to get to the bottom of this fishy situation.
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@msrachellyn Live parasites in the salmon today at #costco yummmm 🤨😩
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Are Worms Found in Fish Harmful?
Seeing tiny worms wriggling around in packaged fish may have you feeling a little queasy, but are they actually harmful? The answer is maybe–at least, if you don’t cook that fish well.
“It depends on what it is,” says Marta Gomez-Chiarri, Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science at University of Rhode Island. “Some worm species–like Anisakis, a nematode or tube worm that can infect fish–could be harmful to humans.” Gomez-Chiarri said it was impossible to definitively say what type of worms are in the TikTok clip based on the video–identification would require a high-resolution image or firsthand analysis.
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What Stores Can Do About Worms in Fish
There are steps a store can take to try and minimize the likelihood of worms in fish. “If the worms come with the fish and are not derived from storing the fish in improper conditions, such as lack of refrigeration, the store or the fish dealer/provider can examine the fish fillets using a light box and remove worms manually,” says Gomez-Chiarri. “Another option is freezing the fish for at least 24 hours, or the flash freezing that is used for tuna and other high-end sushi fish.”
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How You Can Protect Yourself
If you see worms wriggling in the seafood at the store, your best bet is to skip it. Once you get seafood home, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to cook the fish thoroughly before eating it. Gomez-Chiarri said these packages of fish would be safe to eat “if the fish are fully cooked–so make sure there are no raw portions in the middle. Cook your fish correctly, and only use high-quality fish (sushi grade) from a reputable source if you are planning to eat it raw.”
Addressing a common misconception, Gomez-Chiarri stresses that marinades used for ceviche or marinated salmon do not kill Anisakis, so the same guidelines for raw fish apply, even if it has been soaked in some type of marinade.
We reached out to Costco for comment, but didn't hear back by the time this story was published. We also contacted the Food & Drug Administration, but an FDA representative said that because TikTok is prohibited on government devices, they couldn't view the video and therefore couldn’t comment.
Next up, check out these 55 air fryer fish recipes so good you’ll want to become a pescatarian.
Source:
Marta Gomez-Chiarri, Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science at University of Rhode Island
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