Can loaches be eaten raw?
Disease description:
I recently heard that loach is nutritious and would like to try it. However, I saw online that some people say loach can be eaten raw. I wonder if that's true?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Loaches are generally not recommended to be eaten raw.
Loaches live in the mud at the bottom of water bodies, and their living environment is complex. They may carry various bacteria, parasites, and viruses on their body surfaces and internally, such as Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, liver flukes, and heterophyes.
If eaten raw, these pathogens can easily enter the human body and cause various diseases. For example, liver flukes can parasitize in the human liver, leading to diseases such as cholangitis, cholecystitis, and even cirrhosis; Salmonella infection can cause symptoms of food poisoning, such as fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
In addition, eating raw loaches may also result in inadequate nutrient absorption. The nutritional components in loaches, such as proteins and vitamins, need to be properly cooked to be better digested and absorbed by the human body. When consumed raw, the absorption rate of these nutrients may be lower.
Therefore, to ensure health, loaches should be thoroughly cooked by methods such as frying, boiling, or stewing before consumption. This can kill harmful pathogens and improve the absorption rate of nutrients.
