Let’s face it: A lot of us are trying to be healthier and make better choices when it comes to what we eat.
Felicia Strickland of Southfield, Michigan is no exception. So, she’s decided to shop at certain stores in particular.
“Going to Whole Foods is a big deal. I want to change how I eat, I don’t want to keep eating unhealthy, unnecessary things”, says Strickland.
Quite a few folks are leaning more towards the fresh stuff. Strickland said she likes wild caught fish.
She told Detroit-based WXYZ that she purchased a nice looking piece of cod from the Midtown Detroit location on Tuesday.
“After seasoning it, I noticed there was something moving on the fish. It was a worm. I thought that’s really disgusting. I was like, 'oh my goodness,'” she says.
WXYZ reached out to Whole Foods to get a explanation and understanding of what that was inside the fish fillet.
The statement from Whole Foods is below:
What the video shows is most likely a nematode. Nematodes are naturally occurring parasitic roundworms that affect a very small percentage of fish. Nematodes are not harmful when the fish is cooked properly to an internal temperature of 140°F, which normal cooking techniques generally exceed, or frozen if intended for raw consumption. Our seafood suppliers use the best controls measures to guard against nematodes reaching our stores, but sometimes this does occur. We always check for nematodes and reject fish when necessary. Good handling practices are in place to minimize nematode infestation. Many seafood processors inspect seafood fillets for nematodes with a process called candling. Candling involved examining fish fillets over lights. This process detects surface parasites. Unfortunately, processors cannot always see parasites embedded deep in thick fillets or in dark tissue. The Centers for Disease Control clearly states that illnesses caused by ingesting parasites are extremely rare in the United States.
WXYZ asked Strickland if she would shop at Whole Foods again in the future. She said she does plan on it.
“Everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what," Strickland says.
She said she plans to speak with a manager and get a refund.
