by Amanda Coers

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

I remember when my best friend finally dragged me to her favorite sushi bar. I was skeptical from the start, holding true to my upbringing of chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes.

As we were seated, she ordered an array of items I had never heard of and calmly sipped green tea infused with ginger. The waiter promptly arrived with a tray containing an odd assortment of brightly colored, squishy-looking geometric shapes along with tiny bowls filled with what looked like something scraped off the pipes under the sink.

I cautiously leaned away in my chair, watching in undisguised horror as my best friend picked up a wet slab of purple-blue flesh and tossed it into her mouth. I turned a little green and saw spots as she proclaimed it to be the best octopus she had ever tasted. When she began selecting fascinating squares she explained were seaweed, sticky rice and raw fish, I began to look around for a salad bar or something.

I just couldn't handle it. Blame in on my simple country roots. Many folks, however, proclaim sushi to be wonderfully tasty and full of health benefits. And my mom always told me to try something at least once. If you're about to embark on your first adventure with the Asian delicacy, or if you're a seasoned diner, you may want to keep the risks of eating sushi in mind when you're chowing down on that raw slab.

As with any raw food there is some degree of risk of food borne pathogens. Seafood is especially noted to contain various pathogens, viral, bacterial, as well as parasitic creatures. "Anisakiasis" is a potentially fatal infection caused by microscopic larval worms - yes, you heard me, worms - that live in some marine creatures. Luckily for most sushi lovers, tapeworms require a freshwater stage in their lifecycle, so as long as you stick to the saltwater fish you should be fine. You should ever eat raw freshwater fish. There are a large number of freshwater parasites that exist and the freshwater ecosystem is a perfect environment for parasitic creatures to thrive.

Of course, due to the potential for contaminants such as mercury, as well as pathogens and parasites, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems should avoid consuming sushi and any other raw meat.

A final risk for sushi lovers to consider: you may become a "foodie." Once you've traveled down the road of sushi, wasabi, California Rolls and pickled ginger root, it may be difficult for you to fully appreciate decent, down-home cooking. Be careful not to turn your back on the hearty fare you grew up with. Sure, go out and enjoy your fancy raw fish - but take the time to enjoy a decent cheeseburger during your culinary adventures.

Pathogen and parasite information gathered from: www.sushifaq.com

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