Is Sushi Safe to Eat? A Chicago man sued a restaurant in 2008 for allegedly serving him a parasitic tapeworm along with his salmon. So what about the sushi or sashimi that hungry buyers pick up to go during the lunch hour rush? Sushi lovers need not fret about the raw fish they consume, food scientists say, as long as the sushi has been prepared properly according to regulations by the Food and Drug Administration. People preparing sushi themselves need to take extra care with both the raw fish and the rice. Raw fish poses several potential hazards for consumers besides parasites. Bacteria can develop in non-fresh fish and produce enzymes called histamines that may result in Scombroid poisoning. Certain tropical-water fish may also have a natural toxin called ciguatera which causes gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. Sushi eaters don't typically have to worry because sushi restaurants take certain steps in handling and preparing their fish. A required step involves freezing fish at temperatures of -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) for seven days, or frozen at -31 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 degrees Celsius) for 15 hours, which kills any parasites.

"As far as sushi goes, the rules are in place because people were getting sick," said Keith Schneider, a microbiologist and food safety expert at the University of Florida. "The parasites are why we do the freezing on the raw fish." The cases of sushi-related illness fall far below the number of people sickened by contaminated produce such jalapeno peppers. Even in those rare cases, the rice in sushi is more often the culprit than the fish. "I got sick eating sushi at a place I go to occasionally — a fast food place, not a restaurant — and I could swear I came out with bacillus cereus," Schneider told LiveScience. The bacillus cereus bacteria can spread rapidly in rice that sits at room temperature. Sushi rice requires an acidic bath in a vinegary solution that lowers the PH to 4.1, killing troublemaking microbes and making sushi safer for the everyday foodie. Don't walk on the wild side Many sushi lovers feast contentedly on albacore or eel, but a few people aim for a more dangerous culinary experience by eating the raw flesh of a poisonous puffer fish called fugu.

Master fugu chefs sometimes include some of the poison in their prepared dish, which creates a tingly feeling on the lips when eaten. However, improperly prepared fugu can kill due to the fish's potent neurotoxin. "I consider it more of a dare than a delicacy," Schneider said. "There are people who kill themselves every year trying to make fugu, and it gives sushi a bad name." As for trying to make sushi with raw meat other than fish, best perish the thought. "Raw chicken, raw beef has probably much greater risk," Schneider said, pointing to bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella that can sicken thousands each year in the United States. "There are reasons you don't have chicken sushi." No food is completely without risk, but smart consumers can eat sensibly and enjoy – as long as fish are around. Expert tips for happy sushi eating The best bet for a good meal involves going to a restaurant or grabbing a sushi container from the local supermarket. If you absolutely want to prepare your own sushi, buy sushi-grade fish that has been frozen per FDA regulations.

Eat your sushi as soon as possible, and do not let it sit in the fridge for more than 24 hours. Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries. sushi go round 2 free downloadWe're also on Facebook & Google+.how to roll sushi noriThere’s Nothing Wrong With Raw Fish That Has Been Frozenbuy sushi fish calgaryB swears you can make sashimi out of Costco salmon. where to buy sushi grade fish mnI was mildly (ok, very) skeptical, but I told him if he prepared it, I would eat it. sushi for beginners online

Love is trust, right? I was sure if he ran a restaurant, he'd be cited for health violations by not using sushi grade fish for sashimi, but after a Google search, it seems that no one - not the FDA, not local health inspectors, not any governing body - knows what sushi grade means! sakae sushi delivery menu sgYep, there's no regulations, as long the fish has been frozen for a period of time to kill parasites. sushi making kit for saleI suppose it's comforting that even when self-regulated, at least seafood vendors care about whether we get tapeworms. Basically, "sashimi" is just a sexy marketing term to mean any fish that can be eaten raw. Of course, the fresher the fish, the better the taste and texture, so these fish should be killed and iced ASAP. Here's more info from Sushifaq, Cooking Stack Exchange, and Beyond Salmon.

After more Googling (yeah yeah, so I trust online strangers' opinions more than my own boyfriend's) using Costco fish for sashimi is not uncommon. From personal experience, their salmon quality is actually quite decent. B is very picky about the package date being the same day to ensure absolute freshness, so he only trusts Costco (Ok, I know this is the second post in two weeks waxing eloquently about Costco, but my boy is in love with that place), and does not recommend getting the salmon from any random Chinatown market. Update to some FAQs in the comments: The salmon is fresh (not frozen), and the day you buy the salmon should be the day you make this recipe - don't let it sit in your fridge for days!Let's just say I was pretty darn impressed. The salmon is so buttery and had the perfect texture. N: I want you to make this salmon sashimi for my family when you visit us! B: Oh you know how to make sashimi now, so you can do it for them. N: Well, I'm afraid I'll poison them, so I'll let you make it!

B: Great, so if anything goes wrong, I'm the fall guy, eh? B has made this recipe many times for family and friends and to date, no one has ever gotten sick. However, please use your own discretion when making this recipe as you are still eating raw fish (ie please don't try this if you're immunosuppressed or pregnant!). Otherwise, enjoy some amazing sashimi! fresh salmon filet (check the packing date - the day you buy = packing date = day making the recipe) rice vinegar, diluted in water (optional) 1 sushi cup rice, recipe below Rinse and rub a generous amount of salt onto your salmon (both sides). Let sit in fridge for 2 hours. Afterwards, take out salmon from fridge and rinse with water. Submerge your salmon in diluted vinegar (preferably rice vinegar but white works as well). You use pure vinegar or dilute the vinegar up to 1:10 (ie 1/2 cup vinegar and 4 1/2 cups water) if you want a less vinegar taste.Let sit in fridge for 1 hour. Remove from fridge and rinse thoroughly.

Wrap salmon in saran wrap and put it in the freezer over night The day you want to eat it, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge. This should take 6-8 hours; do not try speed it up by leaving it outside. Cut the sashimi with a sharp knife in a slicing motion. Mold rice with your hands, dab with wasabi, and cover with your sashimi. The Gentleman's Sushi Rice This serving size here is for 1 person. The lady and I do not like too much rice in our nigiri. 1/2 cup sushi rice 1 tablespoon rice vinegar Rinse the rice only 3-5 times (water does NOT have to run clear) and drain in a strainer. While rice is draining, combine vinegar, sugar, salt and mirin together in a bowl and mix well. Add rice to the pot. Bring quickly to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pot and DON'T touch it until the end, NO PEEKING. Put something heavy on the lid like another pot. The more pressure the rice is cooked under, the better it tastes. Cook for 15 minutes before removing the pot from the heat but keep the lid CLOSED.