Tuna fish
Due to this trait, parasites have been used as an indicator to differentiate fish stocks or populations globally. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
Kochi : Alleviating concerns over a recent study report on parasites in tuna, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) has said the tuna caught along the Indian coast don’t show any harmful parasite infestation and hence are safe to consume as a healthy diet. The fish examined don’t show external manifestations of harmful parasitic infestation,” said Grinson George, CMFRI director. The institute said such findings from a particular geographical region shouldn’t be generalised to tuna caught in Indian waters. Further, proper cooking kills parasites and significantly reduces any associated food-safety risk,” George said.
CMFRI advised consumers not to avoid tuna or other commercially available fish solely based on reports of parasitic infections detected in fish from a particular region. The advisory comes in the wake of reports over the presence of parasites in skipjack tuna based on a study conducted on fish from Atlantic Ocean off Brazil. “Scientists at CMFRI regularly examine fish, including skipjack tuna, as part of fish biology studies and observe fish for abnormalities and parasites whenever necessary. The presence and abundance of parasites in individual fish can vary depending on ecological conditions and the availability of intermediate or secondary hosts such as copepods. As an additional precaution for food safety, CMFRI advised that proper and quick evisceration is an important step for ensuring food hygiene. “The intestines and other viscera are normally removed during processing and cleaning. However, in certain countries, raw or lightly cooked seafood is consumed as a cultural practice and can be risky if the parasites’ prevalence in the particular locality is high and not properly evaluated. In India, normal culinary practices with seafood involve cooking at high temperatures, he added. He emphasised that consumer awareness about proper handling, cleaning and cooking of seafood is key to minimising potential risks while continuing to enjoy the nutritional benefits of fish and other seafood. Download the TOI App.