Sushi, sashimi, and poke are delicious. Why? It’s because they’re all made of raw fish! But, have you ever noticed that warning about raw or undercooked seafood at the bottom of restaurant menus? Have you ever wondered why it’s there?
It’s there because fish carry a ton of parasites. And if the fish aren’t prepared correctly, then those parasites can make it into your body. This fishy intersection with the wild world of parasites can teach us a lot about how these moochers help keep ecosystems healthy, and why we should protect them.
TWEET THIS: As @DrJoeHanson tells us, raw fish can be a #parasite playground. But does that mean you need to think twice about sushi night?
In this episode of It’s Okay to Be Smart, learn about how parasites get in your food (and how they get out). Additionally, you’ll learn whether you should be concerned about about these parasites. Most importantly, learn about how ecosystems support each other when different species play different roles.
Twitter: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart
Instagram: @DrJoeHanson
It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Director: Andrew Matthews
Writer: Andrew Matthews Creative
Director: David Schulte
Editor/animator: Derek Borsheim
Producers: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM
Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com
References
Parasite Evolution from LiveScience.com
The World’s Parasites Are Going Extinct. Here’s Why That’s a Bad Thing from SmithsonianMag.com
History of Human Parisitology from NCBI
Parasites in Seattle Sushi from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Dramatic evolution within human genome may have been caused by malaria parasite from ScienceMag.org
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
Interviews and conversations with: Colin J. Carlson (National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center) Chelsea L. Wood (University of Washington)
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