Expert: Lynn Schottke - 7/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: I baked some fish the other day and as I was eating it I noticed something strange.  I saw what looked to be a worm on my plate.  Needless to say, I lost my appetite and threw away the rest of the fish.  Prior to baking it, the fish had been marinated and frozen.  Is this something that is common with fish, or should I be concerned about the store where I bought the fish?

ANSWER: Hi Glenn,
Are you sure it was a worm and not a bone? Sometimes, when you bake fish, some of the fat will leach out in a funky pattern. Worms are definately not common in fish. If it was in the fish..yuk!!! You did not by any chance take a picture did you? I don't blame you for loosing your appetite. The correct temp to cook fish to is 145 (just fyi)....Lynn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm pretty sure it was a worm.  It was approx. 2" long.  I did not take a picture as I think I was just too grossed out about the whole thing.  I had baked it at about 350 for about 30-35 min.  I just don't know how the worm got there in the first place.  After I asked my first question, I thought of something else I wanted to ask as well.  Is it true that when you buy fish it should not smell like fish?  When I watch Emeril, he is always saying that fish should not smell like fish and if it does, it is not fresh and not to buy it.  For the time being, I think I'll take a break from eating fish for a while.

Answer
Sounds like your fish had a parasite....GROSS!!!!! Emeril is my hero :) He is correct, fish should not smell like fish. If you buy whole eyes should be clear not cloudy. Gills should thight to the body not curled or fanned out. Where did you buy that fish? I certainly won't go there. In all actuality it's probably not their fault, it would be the supplier. No matter what thats still gross. Fish can get parasites just like any other creature, Parasite finds host (maybe ingested buy fish) attaches itself and lives inside the fish. The good news is it probably died when the fish did. Freezing and cooking would have done the trick for sure. Yuk now I'm groosed out, I think I'll take a break too.