Can You Eat Raw Tuna?
In recent years, Asian influences have introduced the consumption of raw fish into our gastronomy. Both with sushi and with other types of preparations, it is common to consume products from the sea without cooking. However, this can pose a health risk if the necessary hygienic measures are not taken. Can you eat raw tuna?
First you have to freeze the product
The worst enemy of the consumer of raw fish is anisakis, according to a study published in the International Journal for Parasitology . This parasite is capable of causing serious illness in humans and even death. For this reason, one must be very careful when handling the products to avoid the reproduction of the parasite and its roe.
It is essential to subject the tuna to a freezing process. At a temperature of -35 ºC, 15 hours are needed to ensure the complete destruction of this organism. However, at a temperature of -20 ºC, the time required is 24 hours.
The main symptoms of anisakis poisoning are stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Normally, the parasite is killed when fish undergoes a cooking process, however, it can remain alive if consumed raw or marinated.
Therefore, it is essential to check with the fishmonger if the product we are purchasing has been subjected to a freezing process that ensures the destruction of the anisakis. Otherwise, it is necessary to carry out this process at home.
Thawing is another critical point
Thawing of tuna must be done cold. Avoiding room temperature or heat is a good way to prevent the reproduction of possible pathogenic organisms or the hatching of roe present in the product.
Defrosting must be slow so as not to lose organoleptic characteristics, and, whenever possible, in the refrigerator. In this way, we ensure that we prevent possible food poisoning or damage the quality of the product.
It is also important not to break the cold chain when the product is in a frozen state. Many times tuna can be bought frozen, in these situations it is essential to ensure that the product does not drop below -18 ºC at any time.
Using acids for cooking
In the preparations in which raw tuna is consumed, such as in a tataki, it is important to use an acid that helps to guarantee the health of the product. Usually the acid of choice is lime or lemon juice. In this way, it is possible to improve the taste of the fish and create an environment of hostile acidity for pathogenic organisms.
Dangers of consuming raw tuna
There are some situations where raw fish is not advised. This is the case in pregnant or immunosuppressed people, according to a study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition. Due to its greater sensitivity to pathogenic organisms, a small bacterial load could lead to the loss of the fetus or to a worsening of the individual’s health.
Therefore, in this type of people it is essential to ensure that the fish is properly cooked before consumption. Despite this, the product must be properly frozen and thawed prior to cooking to increase safety and reduce the probability of harboring pathogenic organisms or roe.
You can eat raw tuna with certain precautions
The consumption of raw fish is influenced by Asian cuisines. It can be a delicacy and its consumption is totally safe when the appropriate hygienic measures are taken. Not breaking the cold chain and a correct freezing process are the key points when consuming raw tuna.
With the above, correct food safety and adequate organoleptic quality will be ensured. From here on, there are multiple possible preparations with this type of product. It is possible to make sushis, pokes, ceviches, etc., with the assurance that the food will not cause any harm to the body.
In addition, the safety of the food can be enhanced by adding some type of acid component. However, it is important not to keep this type of preparation for a long time once it has been prepared.
Its cold preservation is not entirely good, firstly because of the loss of taste, and secondly because it increases the probability that the roe of some pathogen will hatch and the product will become dangerous to health.
