What are the details about sushi-grade fish?
Is it safe to eat raw fish that I buy at the market? This is not recommended, it is that it is risky to eat store bought fish as sushi due to the higher potential for parasitic or bacterial contaminants. Restaurants have sources that are different from the market, and specifically buy food items that are intended to be eaten raw (commonly referred to as ‘sushi grade’). Fish that you buy at the market is intended to be cooked, and is therefore not treated with the same care as what you eat in a restaurant. Anisakiasis is a particularly nasty and potentially fatal infection caused by microscopic larval worms that live in some marine creatures that can be avoided by thorough cooking, or certain deep freezing techniques. Toxoplasmosis has also been found in some raw seafood. While rare, it is one of the many risks inherent in uncooked foods. While some stores now specifically offer ‘sushi grade’ fish as well as their own sushi bars, it is best not to assume that any fish on display is safe
