One Order of Parasites, Please
Thanks to a friend on Facebook (where else do we get information these days?), we're in the know. We know what not to order - and what to order with caution.
The article, Monsters Inside of Me: Menu Items Most Likely to Contain Parasites, which originally appeared on Animal Planet, was written by someone at HowStuffWorks.com (of course).
It's got a few things you'd expect, but at least one we're guessing you wouldn't...
5. Escargot
They're bottom feeders, often eating fecal matter then storing it in their digestive systems. Undercooked or poorly washed, and you're in for more than you expected. (Other mollusks can also be a risk, including prawns and crabs, so as the article states: "the safest move is to err on the side of overcooking your creepy, crawly dinner choice."
4. Sushi and Sashimi
Freezing fish for a week will take care of the problem, but what fine sushi restaurant is going to do that? Roundworms are the most common, and only live in you for 10 days, but there are others that can stick around for years. So pick your restaurant wisely, though if the parasites are already inside the fish, how much do strict food safety guidelines help?
3. Steak Tartare
According to the article, the key here is also to select your restaurant wisely. Says the article: "If you're going to eat it raw, you're going to want a very fresh, certified cut of meat and you're going to want it prepared in a hygienic environment."
2. The Pink Hamburger of Doom
Undercooked hamburgers (especially made from meat that isn't the highest quality) can be a breeding ground for E. coli. Probably not found in a gourmet burger, but very possibly found in a fast food burger. How's this for scary: "A 2008 study published in the Annals of Diagnostic Pathology examined the contents of eight fast-food hamburgers and discovered Sarcocystis parasites in two of them. Unlike other parasites that might be lurking in a pink hamburger, Sarcocystis is usually asymptomatic." Ugh. Consider that next time you want a Double Cheeseburger from McDonald's.
1. Ham and Pork Sandwiches
What? Number One on the list? But it's true: deli meats are at the top of the risk list for Listeria monocytogenes infection (which is especially harmful to pregnant women). Part of the problem is that their refrigeration life is too long, allowing the harmful parasites to grow. But undercooked pork harbors additional risks, so go only to high quality sandwich shops, and if it's being cooked, order it well done. (At home, you can also microwave deli meats to remove any possibility of infection.)
It's got a few things you'd expect, but at least one we're guessing you wouldn't...
5. Escargot
They're bottom feeders, often eating fecal matter then storing it in their digestive systems. Undercooked or poorly washed, and you're in for more than you expected. (Other mollusks can also be a risk, including prawns and crabs, so as the article states: "the safest move is to err on the side of overcooking your creepy, crawly dinner choice."
4. Sushi and Sashimi
Freezing fish for a week will take care of the problem, but what fine sushi restaurant is going to do that? Roundworms are the most common, and only live in you for 10 days, but there are others that can stick around for years. So pick your restaurant wisely, though if the parasites are already inside the fish, how much do strict food safety guidelines help?
3. Steak Tartare
According to the article, the key here is also to select your restaurant wisely. Says the article: "If you're going to eat it raw, you're going to want a very fresh, certified cut of meat and you're going to want it prepared in a hygienic environment."
2. The Pink Hamburger of Doom
Undercooked hamburgers (especially made from meat that isn't the highest quality) can be a breeding ground for E. coli. Probably not found in a gourmet burger, but very possibly found in a fast food burger. How's this for scary: "A 2008 study published in the Annals of Diagnostic Pathology examined the contents of eight fast-food hamburgers and discovered Sarcocystis parasites in two of them. Unlike other parasites that might be lurking in a pink hamburger, Sarcocystis is usually asymptomatic." Ugh. Consider that next time you want a Double Cheeseburger from McDonald's.
1. Ham and Pork Sandwiches
What? Number One on the list? But it's true: deli meats are at the top of the risk list for Listeria monocytogenes infection (which is especially harmful to pregnant women). Part of the problem is that their refrigeration life is too long, allowing the harmful parasites to grow. But undercooked pork harbors additional risks, so go only to high quality sandwich shops, and if it's being cooked, order it well done. (At home, you can also microwave deli meats to remove any possibility of infection.)
