Can Salmon Have Worms? What You Need To Know

Salmon is one of the most popular and nutritious types of fish. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids high quality protein, and various vitamins and minerals. However no food is perfect. Salmon, specifically wild salmon, is known to sometimes have parasitic worms.

I want to provide a comprehensive overview of the worms that can be found in salmon, if you should be worried, and what you can do to avoid them Let’s dive in!

What Kinds Of Worms Can Be Found In Salmon?

The most common worms found in salmon are called anisakid nematodes. They are also sometimes referred to as herring worms or cod worms since they can infect various species of fish. These thin, small worms are parasites that can infect both saltwater and freshwater fish.

Wild salmon is more susceptible to these parasites than farmed salmon. One reason is that farmed salmon are not fed raw fish like wild salmon eat in the oceans. Wild salmon swimming in the oceans naturally eat smaller infected fish, allowing the parasite’s life cycle to continue.

While it may seem gross, the fact is parasites can be found in almost all foods if you look closely enough. It’s just the nature of raising and harvesting foods that contact the soil and environment. The good news is proper freezing and cooking easily kill any potential parasites.

How Common Are Worms In Store-Bought Salmon?

The chances of finding a worm in your grocery store salmon is very rare. One reason is that wild-caught salmon sold commercially has been previously frozen solid to kill any potential parasites. According to the FDA, fewer than 10 parasitic infections from salmon are reported each year in the entire United States.

Farmed salmon has an even lower chance of parasites since their feed is closely controlled. One study found parasites in only 6% of farm-raised salmon compared to over 60% in wild salmon.

So while it’s theoretically possible to find a worm if you looked closely enough, your odds of buying an infected piece are extremely low thanks to modern food safety regulations and processing standards.

What Are The Symptoms Of Eating An Infected Salmon?

On the very off chance you do happen to ingest a worm from salmon, here are some potential symptoms to watch out for:

• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling

Symptoms typically occur within 12 hours but can take up to 2 weeks to develop. Seek medical care if you experience any concerning symptoms after eating raw or undercooked fish.

If you feel a tingling sensation in your mouth or throat while eating raw salmon, this could indicate a worm moving around. Try to cough it up or remove it from your mouth. Quickly expelling the worm will prevent any symptoms or infection.

Should You Be Worried About Parasites In Salmon?

While the idea of worms in your salmon may be unpleasant, the reality is they rarely cause issues thanks to modern processing standards. Proper freezing kills any parasites, and cooking salmon thoroughly will also destroy them.

To put your mind at ease:

• Look for wild-caught frozen salmon at your grocery store. Frozen wild salmon sold commercially in the U.S. should be parasite-free.

• Cook your salmon to an internal temperature of at least 145°F to kill any potential worms.

• If eating raw salmon like in sushi, buy previously frozen cuts labeled for raw consumption.

• Opt for farmed salmon, which has very minimal parasite risk.

Following basic food safety practices makes the chances of consuming live worms extremely low. The health benefits of salmon far outweigh any negligible risk in my opinion.

How To Tell If Your Salmon Has Worms

It’s pretty rare to visibly see worms in your salmon, but here are a few signs that may indicate their presence:

• Small dark spots along the flesh
• Tiny worms visible underneath the skin or against the bones
• Tiny burrows or tracks in the fish’s flesh
• A tingling sensation in your mouth or throat when eating raw salmon

Again, any salmon sold commercially in the U.S. should be frozen and safe from parasites. But if you happen to catch a fresh salmon yourself, look for those signs before eating it raw or undercooked.

Proper freezing for at least 7 days at -4°F or cooking to 145°F will eliminate any living worms.

Can You Get Worms Again From Eating Salmon?

If you are unlucky enough to contract a parasitic infection from salmon, you can be reinfected again in the future. However, your odds of getting worms again from salmon you purchase at the grocery store are extremely low.

To minimize any recurrence, take the same precautions:

• Purchase previously frozen or farmed salmon
• Ensure salmon is cooked adequately, especially if you catch your own
• Avoid consuming completely raw salmon, especially if making it at home from unfrozen cuts

Practicing basic food safety is enough to make getting worms again from salmon a non-issue. For most people, it’s not a recurring problem at all.

Key Takeaways On Parasitic Worms In Salmon

• Anisakid nematode worms can occasionally be found in wild salmon. Farmed salmon has minimal risk.
• Commercially frozen salmon sold in grocery stores should be parasite-free. The odds of buying an infected piece are extremely low.
• Cooking and freezing salmon properly kills any potential worms.
• Symptoms are rare but can include abdominal pain, fever, rash, etc. Seek medical care if concerning symptoms arise.
• Following basic food safety practices like cooking to proper temperatures minimizes any risk.
• The health benefits of salmon far outweigh the very small chance of parasites. Keep eating salmon as part of a healthy diet!

The white, stringy things in salmon are likely muscle fibers called myosepta or albumin. These connective tissues hold the muscles together, and they become more visible when the salmon is cooked.