ICAR-CMFRI says tuna from Brazil not a risk for Indian consumers
The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute cautioned that parasite findings in Brazilian skipjack tuna do not apply to fish caught in Indian waters and advised normal cooking practices.
Researchers reported parasites in skipjack tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil, prompting concerns about seafood safety. ICAR-CMFRI responded that fish sampled from the Indian coastline, including tuna, displayed no external evidence of dangerous parasitic infestation. Director Grinson George explained that parasite loads differ across geographic areas due to ecological factors and host availability, and that such differences are used to distinguish fish stocks.
The institute advised prompt evisceration during processing and thorough cooking, which effectively kills parasites. While raw or lightly cooked seafood may carry higher risk where parasite rates are high, Indian consumers typically cook seafood at high temperatures, reducing any potential danger. Overall, ICAR-CMFRI urged the public not to avoid tuna or other commercially available fish based on the Brazilian findings.
Why it matters
It reassures consumers that locally caught tuna remains safe when properly prepared, despite parasite reports elsewhere.
In this story
