Do you like sushi? You may like this less after reading this.

Almost any food can produce food poisoning if it is not handled properly. But let’s be honest: there are those from whom we buy more tickets. For example, raw meat and fish They are an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. Carpaccio or sushi These are tasty dishes, but they can be more dangerous than grilled beef fillet or baked hake. Now, if we focus on sushi, to what extent can we get poisoned by eating it?

To answer this question, the best place to start is with call for calm: probability, if done well, too short. However, a team of scientists from two Norwegian research centers recently conducted a study aimed at raising awareness of some pathogens in raw fish that we don’t pay enough attention to.

It doesn’t matter if we’re going to cook sushi, ceviche or tartare. Fish can be accompanied by certain bacteria that carry risks that we don’t know enough about. Each region has its own rules for marketing these products, but in general there are many places that force establishments to freeze fish that they intend to serve raw. The problem is that some of these microorganisms also survive. freezing. Therefore, it is important to know how many there are.

Bacteria from raw fish

One of the bacteria best known for causing food poisoning when eaten raw foods such as meat or fish is Listeria monocytogenes. However, there is a genus called Aeromonasa very underrated one that is also found in fish and shellfish and can cause poisoning when consumed in foods such as sushi.

The study authors confirmed this by analyzing several products sold at retail in Norway. They especially studied sushi, salmon loin, oysters and scallops.

Analyzing them, they found up to 22 different strains Aeromonas, whose genetic material was also analyzed. So they saw that they had genes that made them very pathogenic bacteria. For example, they have genes that help them evade the immune system, so they cause more severe infections. In addition, they have genes responsible for the synthesis of several types of toxins, including enterotoxinsthat affect the digestive system. Finally, they discovered genes associated with motility and adhesion, which give them greater ability to move and attach to mucous membranes. These are very effective bacteria when it comes to infection. And that’s not the worst part.

The dangers of antibiotic resistance

Bacteria have the ability exchange genes between them. When AeromonasThey have also been observed to be very effective in this type of bacterial communication. This is a problem because antibiotic-resistant microorganisms derived from human wastewater are very easy to find in the sea. In fact, these bacteria have even been found in dolphins. Thus, bacteria of the genus Aeromonas They could acquire genes that give them resistance and, after infecting a person, pass on those same genes to other bacteria that were already in their body.

Therefore, food poisoning can also give us antibiotic resistance that we didn’t have before.

Other risks of sushi

Raw fish isn’t the only sushi ingredient that can cause food poisoning if not handled correctly.

He rice, For example, it may be infected with bacteria called Bacillus cereuswhich usually only produces diarrhea and vomiting, but in people with weakened immune systems it can even lead to death. These bacteria are very common in grains such as rice and multiply when they are cooked and stored at room temperature.

Therefore, rice cooked outside the refrigerator can be an ideal nutritional medium for him. This is another reason do not leave sushi at room temperature and consume it as soon as possible.

In relation to fish, it has been proven that bacteria of the genus Aeromonas They can survive freezing. Therefore, the authors of this study suggest that its presence in fish be taken into account and more commercial analyzes be carried out.

In any case, when sushi is handled correctly, very few people become infected. There is no zero risk of food poisoning, but today we have the safest products in the world. So while it’s important to educate about new risks, we shouldn’t stop eating because we’re afraid of them. By taking appropriate precautions, the likelihood of getting sick in places like Europe remains very low.