Is it safe to use raw salmon?

Salmon has many health benefits, making it a popular choice among seafood eaters. Dishes made with raw fish are sometimes a tradition of many cultures. For example, sashimi is a Japanese dish of thinly sliced ​​raw fish and gravlax is a Nordic appetizer. This article reviews the health concerns of eating raw salmon and how it is safe to enjoy it.

Raw salmon may contain bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. Some of these microorganisms are naturally occurring in the fish's environment. However, it can also occur when the cook is handling the salmon incorrectly.
To eat salmon properly it is necessary to cook salmon to an internal temperature of 63 °C, this will kill bacteria and parasites affected by temperature factors, but if you eat salmon raw, you will be more at risk of infection by microorganisms.
1.1. Parasites in raw salmon The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has listed salmon as a known source of parasites, which are organisms that live on or in other organisms including fish. People.
Worms are parasitic worms similar to tapeworms or roundworms. These helminths are quite common in fish with fins, including salmon. The Japanese tapeworm or tapeworm Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense can live in your small intestine, where they can grow to more than 12 meters long.
These and other tapeworms have been found in wild salmon from Alaska and Japan and in the digestive tracts of people who have eaten raw salmon currently in those areas.
Symptoms of helminth infection when consuming raw salmon include weight loss, abdominal pain, diarrhea and in some cases anemia. However, in some specific cases, sometimes these symptoms do not appear. This disease is transmitted mainly by eating seafood that is poorly preserved, improperly prepared, or harvested from waters contaminated by human waste.

1.2. Bacterial and viral infections from raw fish Like all seafood, salmon can become contaminated with bacteria or viruses, which can cause mild to severe illness when you eat fish, especially undercooked salmon. . Some bacteria or viruses that may be present in raw salmon include:
Salmonella Shigella Vibrio Clostridium botulinum Staphylococcus aureus Listeria monocytogenes Escherichia coli Hepatitis A Norovirus Most infections of these bacterial and viral species are caused by eating fish. revived is due to improper handling or storage.
Raw salmon can also contain contaminants that exist in the environment. Both farmed and wild salmon can contain trace amounts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals.
Persistent organic pollutants POPs are toxic chemicals including pesticides, industrial chemicals and flame retardants, that accumulate in the food chain because these toxic chemicals are stored in stored in the fatty tissues of animals and fish. Consequently, they will appear of these harmful chemicals in the food chain.
Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants POPs is associated with an increased risk of cancer, birth defects and endocrine, immune, cancer and reproductive disorders.
Although levels of contaminants remained within safe limits, researchers found that salmon had the largest amount of a type of flame retardant. Researchers sampled 10 fish species from a market in Spain and found that salmon contained the highest levels of a specific flame retardant. However, the detected levels were still within safe limits.
Cooking salmon reduces levels of many persistent organic pollutants POPs. One study found that cooked salmon had on average 26% lower levels of persistent organic pollutants POPs than raw salmon
Children, the elderly and pregnant women should not eat salmon living. It is also prohibited for immunocompromised people such as those with diabetes, liver disease, organ transplants, cancer and HIV/AIDS because eating undercooked salmon can lead to an increased risk of infection severe and life-threatening.
However, if you still want to eat sashimi or other raw salmon preparations, you can enjoy it with peace of mind by ensuring that the fish has been frozen at -35°C to kill all parasites. If the salmon is firm and moist, without browning, discolouration or odors, the salmon is edible.
The secret is in the food handling so when preparing salmon yourself, make sure that the knives, utensils and kitchen surfaces are clean. Keep salmon refrigerated and only serve before serving to prevent bacteria buildup.

If you choose to eat salmon raw, make sure it has been previously frozen to -35°C, this will kill any parasites in the salmon. However, freezing does not kill all pathogens. Another thing to keep in mind is that most home freezers don't get this cold.
When buying raw salmon or ordering food containing it, you should also look carefully: freezing temperature, thawing method, texture of the fish (firm, moist and free of bruising, discoloration, loss smells or smells...)
If you are preparing raw salmon in your kitchen, make sure to keep your surfaces, knives and serving utensils clean and keep the salmon in the cupboard Refrigerate until just before serving to prevent microbial contamination.
When you are eating raw salmon or any other fish, at the same time your mouth or throat feels tingling. You can spit it out or cough it up.

Some people are at high risk for serious food-borne infections and should never eat raw salmon or other raw seafood. These include:
Pregnant women Children The elderly All people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, liver disease, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, or diabetes Street

In people with weakened or compromised immune systems, foodborne illness can lead to severe symptoms, hospitalization, or even death.
So, is it good to eat raw salmon? Prepared dishes that include raw salmon can be a delicious side dish and a good way to eat more seafood. However, it's important to keep in mind when eating raw salmon that raw salmon can contain parasites, bacteria, and other toxins that can be harmful even in small doses. You should only eat raw salmon that has been properly stored and prepared. If you have a compromised immune system, it's best not to risk eating raw salmon.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the nationwide health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

References: healthline.com, medicaldaily.com