What parasitic infection risk is associated with eating raw anchovies?
Answer
Anisakiasis
The primary safety concern when consuming anchovies in their raw state, rather than cured or cooked, relates to parasitic contamination. Specifically, raw anchovies carry the risk of transmitting anisakiasis. This infection is caused by ingesting larvae of the parasite *Anisakis simplex*. If these larvae are present and ingested alive, they can embed themselves in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to severe symptoms that can manifest as acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or potentially trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This risk is entirely mitigated if the fish undergoes proper thermal processing (cooking) or deep freezing, as both methods effectively destroy the parasitic organisms.
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