Discover The Most Common Parasites In Food

Parasites in food are various microorganisms that can pose a risk to human health. They are ingested through food and can colonize or produce harmful toxins in a number of parts of the intestinal tract.

It is important to know which are the most common and to be aware of the necessary measures to prevent their consumption. It’s worth noting that one of the most common causes of emergency room visits is food poisoning.

This situation is usually the result of poor hygiene practices, which end up with the ingestion of pathogens that cause problems in the digestive system.

However, some of them can develop allergic processes and affect other vital organs, such as the liver. What other dangers do they cause? In this article we tell you more about it.

Dangers of parasites in food

On many occasions, people consume parasites in their food without being aware of their presence, due to its small size. It is also possible that the product only contains the eggs of the pathogen, which hatch in the intestinal tract and cause damage in the short term.

This is arguably one of the most complicated cases to treat as the parasite settles into the subject and causes a constant health problem.

It is important to note that this set of organisms can develop in very diverse foods. They can be found in fresh produce as well as in canned food.

It is relatively common in meat that has not been properly treated, even in some fish. Once they develop in the body, they can spread through contact, especially if there is poor hand hygiene.

The main parasites in food

An article published in Advances in Food and Nutrition Research states that foodborne parasites are one of the most neglected groups of pathogens.

This is due to their complexity and high prevalence in marginalized populations. In recent years, however, they have spread to other populations and caused unexpected symptoms.

What are the most common parasites in food? And how do you reduce the risk of infection? It is very important to answer these questions, so we provide more details below.

Taenia solium

Taenia is also known as ‘pork tapeworm’. It is a micro-organism mainly found in pork that has not undergone proper treatment or disinfection during the process that takes place in the slaughterhouse.

As a result of the consumption of contaminated food, tapeworms can develop in the gut. They have a worm-like appearance and can absorb the nutrients we ingest through our diet.

According to a study published in the journal Parasite Immunology, it can lead to progressive weight loss in humans. This then naturally leads to a consequent state of malnutrition.

Echinococcus granulosus

This is usually a parasite that lives in the gut of dogs. However, research has shown that it can also be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated meat from other animals, such as pork.

It is a tapeworm-shaped organism, although small in size. It causes protein consumption that reduces the bioavailability of amino acids for human use. As a result, it significantly harms health.

Toxoplasma gondii

This protozoan can cause toxoplasmosis in humans. It is a microorganism that lives mainly in cats. However, its transmission to pregnant women has negative effects on the fetus.

The treatment of toxoplasmosis requires a series of drugs that can affect the synthesis of folic acid. The treatment therefore has a negative influence on the life and reproductive cycle of the parasite.

In the clinical picture of toxoplasmosis , flu-like symptoms such as fever stand out. This disease can even be fatal in people with a suppressed immune system.

A number of studies also suggest that infection with this pathogen may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia in the medium term.

Strategies to Reduce Risk

One of the most effective mechanisms for reducing the risk of developing a foodborne parasitic infection is to take extreme food hygiene measures. In this sense , it is crucial to wash fresh consumer products correctly, except in the case of meat products.

It is also important to ensure that you reach a high internal temperature in the food during cooking. That’s because this is an effective mechanism for eradicating pathogens that may be present in food.

In addition, you should never use the same utensils for handling raw and cooked food. It is also important to optimally disinfect cutlery and to wash your hands before handling food.

If you expose food to a freezing process, you should always thaw it in the refrigerator afterwards. You should therefore not leave the product at room temperature. This can promote the hatching of eggs inside or on the surface.

Beware of parasites in food

Getting an infection caused by parasites in food is relatively common. It is a problem that can seriously endanger human health.

Not only does it affect nutrient metabolism or nutrient availability, but it can also lead to liver damage and even cause a life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction.

Certain poisonings are very dangerous in the case of pregnant women. They manage to endanger the life of the fetus. In this sense, we recommend that you always purchase the highest quality food that has passed the hygiene checks and that has the appropriate certification.

At the same time, you need to cook food completely to ensure that all pathogens living in it are destroyed. In the case of preservatives, use methods that are safe and that manage to keep the food in good condition to prevent parasite reproduction.