2 min read- A McDonald’s customer recently posted on Reddit after finding a parasite in a Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
- Commenters on the thread quickly pointed out that this is actually common in wild-caught fish.
- Parasites in fish generally aren’t a concern as long as the fish has been properly cooked or frozen.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a beloved menu item for a reason. Made with wild-caught Alaskan Pollock, American cheese, tartar sauce, and served on a steamed bun, the sandwich has built a loyal following—so much so that it’s inspired plenty of copycats. But one recent customer found an unexpected extra ingredient in theirs: a parasite.
In a Reddit thread, the customer shared photos of their partially eaten Filet-O-Fish, which appeared to show the parasite in question. While the original poster was understandably not thrilled, commenters were quick to point out that finding one is actually not as shocking as it sounds.
“Former fishmonger here – congrats on finding a nematode! If you’ve ever eaten wild-caught seafood either fresh/frozen, then congratulations as you’ve more than likely eaten a nematode prior!” one person wrote. They went on to explain that it’s “totally normal” and doesn’t present a risk to your health, taste, or texture, as long as the fish has been properly prepared.
“Someone tell OP that worms in fish are common, we just don’t notice them most of the time,” another person chimed in.
Someone else said to “think of it as extra protein.”
“Should be safe to eat so long as it’s dead and cooked thoroughly,” they added.
One commenter summed it up pretty clearly: “Fish are full of parasites, especially wild caught. If you eat a lot of fish, you’ve also eaten plenty of worms and other critters. The filet o fish is fried, frozen, and fried again, you don’t have to worry about any negative effects from consuming the dead parasites.”
Rest assured, while spotting one in your sandwich isn’t ideal, it also shouldn’t deter you from eating it. As several people in the thread pointed out, it’s a normal part of eating wild-caught seafood and confirms McDonald’s classic menu item is wild-caught—so no need to be afraid of a little Filet-O-Fish.