My demand for sushi just fell to zero!

As I am currently teaching changes in demand and in particular, tastes and fashions, this news article about the possible effects of eating sushi was very timely.

The unfortunate sushi consumer from Portugal was admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain and tests discovered that a worm-like parasite larvae had started growing in his stomach. The man got better immediately after the "writhing" worms were removed. 

Although this type of infestation is not uncommon in Japan, the researchers wrote in the British Medical Journal that “owing to changing food habits, anisakiasis is a growing disease in Western countries, which should be suspected in patients with a history of ingestion of raw or uncooked fish.”

The picture below is enough to put me off eating sushi with any raw fish inside it!

Perhaps a health warning on sushi should be considered. Another organisation -  the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons wants wants safety-warning labels placed on avocados because of the increasing cost of avocado related injuries - so anything is possible! The article on sushi can be found here.