Table of contents:
- 1. There are no worms in canned sardines, but in some canned mackerel products
- 2. The worms in this canned mackerel are dead
- 3. What are the consequences if you eat worms in canned fish?
Lately, the public has been shocked by the issue of worms in canned sardines. This is certainly detrimental to many parties, considering that sardines are a fish that is rich in nutrients and beneficial for health. However, are there really worms in canned sardines? Are these worms a danger to the body? Which canned sardines contain worms? Relax, you can listen to all the following facts.
1. There are no worms in canned sardines, but in some canned mackerel products
As explained by the Food and Drug Administration (Badan POM), there are actually no worms found in canned sardines. The product with worms turned out to be three brands of canned mackerel. The three brands of mackerel that contain these worms are Farmerjack, IO, and HOKI. These three products have been withdrawn from circulation because they are not suitable for consumption.
2. The worms in this canned mackerel are dead
The results of the analysis and findings of the POM Agency stated that the worms in canned mackerel products were dead, not live worms.
The worms found were Anisakis sp. In the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews, it is said that these worms are found in many marine fish, including canned mackerel. If consumed by humans even though they are dead, these worms can cause health problems.
3. What are the consequences if you eat worms in canned fish?
Reporting from the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease in 2010, there are two things that might happen if you eat worms in sardines or canned mackerel, both dead and live worms. The first is indigestion, with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However, some people who eat worms from marine fish may not feel any digestive symptoms.
The second thing that might happen is an allergic reaction to Anisakis worms. The POM also warned about the possibility of this reaction, so that eventually these products were withdrawn from the market.
The worms in sardines or mackerel have the potential to cause allergic reactions because they contain certain chemicals, a type of protein that is not friendly to humans. As a result, when your immune system is eaten, you will think of it as an attack by foreign substances that are harmful to the body. Allergic reactions that occur can be mild to serious.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction to these worms include a runny nose, itchy skin around the body and the area around the mouth, and itchy and watery eyes. Meanwhile, a serious allergic reaction that may occur is anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is characterized by difficulty breathing and a drastic drop in blood pressure. If you don't get emergency treatment, this condition can cause death.
If you have recently eaten canned mackerel and experience the above symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
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