New Delhi, September 24 (Trinet News): The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) in Kochi has advised consumers that there is no need to stop eating tuna or other fish available in the market based on reports identifying parasite infections in fish from a specific geographical region.
The organization clarified that tuna and other fish examined along the Indian coastline showed no external symptoms of harmful parasite infections. It stated that it is incorrect to apply findings from other regions to fish caught in Indian waters.
ICAR-CMFRI issued these guidelines following a study revealing parasites in skipjack tuna collected from the Atlantic Ocean near Brazil. It explained that the presence and number of parasites in each fish and geographical region vary depending on environmental conditions and the availability of intermediate or secondary hosts such as copepods.
ICAR-CMFRI Director Dr. Grinson George stated that as part of fish biology studies, the institute's scientists regularly examine various types of fish, including skipjack tuna. He said that when necessary, they check for unusual symptoms and the presence of parasites in fish. The institute reported that the fish examined by them did not show any external signs of harmful parasite infection.
The institute explained that differences in the presence of parasites are used globally as indicators to distinguish fish species or populations. Therefore, it clarified that study results published on fish in one region cannot be directly applied to the same species of fish found in another region.
As part of food safety, the institute advised that it is important to properly remove the guts and other internal organs immediately after catching fish. It noted that these are normally removed during cleaning and processing. Fully cooking fish destroys parasites and significantly reduces food safety risks associated with them.
It mentioned that in some countries, consuming raw or lightly cooked seafood is part of cultural dietary habits. It warned that if the prevalence of parasites is high in such regions without proper assessment, the risk could be higher.
In India, seafood is generally consumed fully cooked at high temperatures, which provides an added layer of food safety, the institute revealed.
ICAR-CMFRI reiterated that consumers do not need to stay away from tuna or other fish available in the market just because reports have emerged about parasites in fish from a specific region. It advised that fish should be properly cleaned and fully cooked before consumption. By taking appropriate precautions, consumers can continue to enjoy the nutritional benefits of fish and other seafood, the institute noted.
