Store bought Cod - Wormy

Weekend Warrior

Picked up some "wild caught" frozen cod from one of our local chain supermarkets a couple of weeks ago on sale and was prepping it last night when I noticed some dark spots in the flesh. Upon investigation with the tip of my knife, I found the fish were infected with round worm parasites. YUCK!!! Brownish-red colored worms about 2 inches long and very tiny diameter. I found more of them by holding the fillets up to direct sun. I picked the worms(4 total in 2 fillets) out and still managed to cook(to very well done I might add) the fillets, but it really put me off so to speak. Anybody else ever run across this? Should I have tossed it or taken it back to the store? Would telling the store even do any good?

Thanks for your replies,

Mark

RRP

personally I would have taken it back for a refund. You may have cut out what you saw, but don't ya wonder what you ate that you didn't see?

Little Steven

Mark,

In future take your reading glasses off when you prep. Works for me anyway :laugh:

Steve

Weekend Warrior

I know what you're saying Ron and they did gross me out some, but the fillets were frozen for a period of time and well cooked by me. You probably have more of a chance of getting a parasitic infection from swimming in a fresh water lake. I don't have any fear of infection, etc., but I won't be buying any more of that cod from that store, that's for sure.

Weekend Warrior

Ignorance is bliss, eh Steve? :laugh:

Morro Bay Rich

If it was me, it would have been back to the store instantly and I would not have just settled for a replacement or a refund.

Some parasites can survive autoclaving, others can live through Chlorox, and still others through saturated high salt concentrations, high sodium hydroxide levels and the list goes on and on. There are reasons why they were here before we got here and will be long after we are gone.

I speak from experience of doing parasite research for over 20 years.

fishlessman

cod worms are pretty common, i wouldnt worry about it, ive watched places pick them out, usually find them when skinning them when the are fresh, freezing is one way to kill them, thats what they do with tuna thats going to be eaten raw

Weekend Warrior

Thank Rich. :( I really needed to read that. :ohmy: I hope I don't end up on the "Monsters Inside Me" show....... :pinch:

Weekend Warrior

Geez, I hope you're right fish........ :blink:

fishlessman

nothing bad will happen from a cod fish worm. you usually dont get them from deep water cod, its the ones closer to shore in warm water. ive heard you can nuke it for a few seconds and they lift from the fillet but i dont think thats true.

Morro Bay Rich

Well according to Fishlessman (who apparently is not always Fishless :P ) it sounds like these guys aren't so bad but I still would have given it back to the market so they could pick them out and sell it to someone else.

fishlessman

they're common in atlantic cod, now i have no clue whats in pacific cod

Rascal

Can also be found in swordfish. Just rout 'em out, have another beverage, & enjoy!!

bitslammer

Morro Bay Rich wrote:

If it was me, it would have been back to the store instantly and I would not have just settled for a replacement or a refund.

Some parasites can survive autoclaving, others can live through Chlorox, and still others through saturated high salt concentrations, high sodium hydroxide levels and the list goes on and on. There are reasons why they were here before we got here and will be long after we are gone.

I speak from experience of doing parasite research for over 20 years.

If we're gone though they are in trouble.