Raw chicken is generally considered not safe to eat. A lot of people eat sushi/sashimi though, and that's raw fish. So, how come that's safe (if it is)?
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I discussed a similar subject in this question: What exactly is "Sushi Grade" fish? Raw fish isn't safe to eat if it's just been sitting around. However, the raw fish used in sushi/sashimi has been frozen (typically flash-frozen) in order to kill any parasites, making it as safe as any other food. Most distributors of sashimi also have their own methods and internal regulations to ensure food safety, but specifics are understandably hard to come by. Suffice it to say, it's far safer to eat properly-prepared nigiri or sashimi than it is to eat an undercooked hamburger. |
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As mentioned in this question about raw chicken - some people and cultures do indeed eat raw chicken. Notwithstanding that, to answer your question more directly, the main problem with eating raw meat, fish, or anything else, are bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. A healthy animal, however, butchered appropriately, should have no specific issues. As such, we make beef tartare, sashimi (sushi refers to the rice, not the raw fish) and just enjoy! |
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Sushi isn't 100% safe, but it's reasonably safe (I eat it all the time). Different animals can harbor different diseases. Chicken are known to carry salmonella, which is pretty harmful to humans. Compare this to most types of sushi grade fish, which don't carry diseases as harmful. This is also a matter of preparation. "Sushi Grade" fish is prepared very carefully with raw consumption in mind. If a chicken is raised guaranteed free of salmonella, or care is taken to make sure the muscle meat never came into contact with organs or feathers, it would be safe to eat raw. However, the fact is that almost no chicken meets that criteria as there seems to be no demand for raw chicken. |
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The key to sushi is the quality and the freshness. The fresher, the better. Much the same rational as steak tartare. To quote Anthony Bourdain, "The key to a successful steak tartare is fresh beef, freshly hand-chopped at the very last minute and mixed table-side" Note that sushi is saltwater fish. Eating raw freshwater fish is not a good idea. |
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I once watched a TV program in which a parasitologist was interviewed. Many kinds of meat and fish contain parasites that can cause harm to humans, and fish is no exception. She said that the worms found in fish were easy to spot, to the trained eye, and that a good sushi chef would see them and not serve those pieces. At the end of the interview, she was asked if there was any kind of food she would always avoid. She said she wouldn't easy sushi from a source she didn't trust fully. Me, I love sushi too much to ever turn down the chance to eat it :D |
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