Prevent illnesses caused by these parasites by purchasing food from approved, reputable suppliers, cooking food to required minimum internal temperatures, serving fish that will be served raw or undercooked with correct freezing and thawing (frozen by the manufacturer)
Anisakis simplex - causes anisakiasis; commonly found in raw and undercooked fish (herring, code, halibut, mackerel, pacific salmon); common symptoms are tingling in throat and coughing up worms;
prevent illness caused by this parasite by purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers, cooking fish to minimum internal temperatures. If serving raw or undercooked fish, purchase sushi-grade fish that has been frozen to the correct time-temperature requirements.
Cryptosporidium parvum - causes Cryptosporidiosis; contaminated water, produce; watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, weight loss; prevent illnesses caused by this parasite by using correctly treated water, keeping food handlers with diarrhea out of the operation, washing hands.
Giardia duodenalis (also Giardia lamblia and Giardia intestinalis) - causes giardiasis; fever (initially), abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea; prevent illnesses caused by this parasite by purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers, and also by using correctly treated water, keep food handlers with diarrhea out of the operation, washing hands.
Cyclospora cayetanensis - causes cyclosporiasis; incorrectly treated water, produce such as berries, lettuce, or basil; nausea, abdominal cramps, mild fever, diarrhea alternating with constipation, loss of weight, loss of appetite; prevent illnesses caused by this parasite by purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers, purchasing produce from approved, reputable suppliers, keeping food handlers with diarrhea out of the operation, washing hands.
FUNGI
-Grow well in almost any condition, especially in acidic food with low water activity.
-Are only slowed not destroyed by cooler or freezer temperatures.
Prevent illnesses caused by fungi by throwing out moldy food and foods that contain yeast.
BIOLOGICAL TOXINS
-Found in seafood, plants, and mushrooms
Prevent illnesses caused by toxins by purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers.
Toxins: Histamine, Ciguatoxin, Saxitoxin, Brevetoxin, Domoic acid
Histamine - causes scombroid poisoning; commonly found in fish (tuna, bonito, mackerel, mahimahi); initial symptoms include reddening of the face and neck, sweating, headache burning or tingling sensation in the mouth or throat, later symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. Prevent histamine toxin poisoning by purchasing from approved, reputable suppliers, and preventing time-temperature abuse during storage and preparation.
Ciguatoxin - causes ciguatera fish poisoning; commonly found in predatory tropical reef fish from Pacific Ocean, Western Indian Ocean, and Caribbean Sea: Barracuda Grouper Jacks Snapper; symptoms of Ciguatera fish poisoning include reversal of hot and cold sensations, nausea, vomiting, tingling in fingers, lips, or toes, joint and muscle pain; prevent ciguatera toxin poisoning by purchasing predatory tropical reef fish from approved, reputable suppliers
Saxitoxin - causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP); shellfish found in colder waters such as those of the Pacific and New England coasts: clams, oysters, mussels, scallops; symptoms of PSP include numbness, tingling in mouth, face, arms, and legs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; prevent PSP by purchasing shellfish from approved, reputable suppliers.
Brevetoxin - causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP); found commonly in shellfish in warmer waters of west coast of Florida, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea: clams, mussels, and oysters; symptoms include tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, and throat, dizziness, reversal of hot and cold sensations, vomiting diarrhea; prevent NSP by purchasing shellfish from approved, reputable suppliers.
Domoic acid - causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP); Shellfish found in coastal waters of Pacific Northwest and east coast of Canada: clams, mussels, oysters, scallops; symptoms include initially vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and possibly later include confusion, memory loss, disorientation, seizure, and coma; prevent amnesic shellfish poisoning by purchasing shellfish from approved, reputable suppliers.
