McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a favorite of those observing following a meatless diet for Lent leading up to Easter.
But the sandwich, created by Cincinnati’s first McDonald’s franchise owner whose clientele was predominantly Catholic, might be carrying an unwelcome surprise — parasites. A Reddit user posted photos to the McDonald’s subreddit of a worm supposedly found in their Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
But that’s actually a good thing, according to Matthew Spina at Tasting Table. It’s a sign that the fish was caught in the wild.
Commenters on the Reddit post agree: “Well, now we know it’s real fish,” one writes. “My exact thought,” another writes in reply. “I’ve worked fish markets. Fish have parasites.”
Here’s what to know.
Parasites in McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish a sign that the fish was caught in the wild
While diners may not be happy to spot a worm in their fish sandwich, they are just natural parasites present in nearly all wild-caught fish, Spina writes. “[T]hey are both unavoidable and usually nothing to worry about.”
The parasite most likely to be found in a Filet-O-Fish is a nematode, a type of roundworm that is found in saltwater fish like cod, pollock, halibut and flounder, he writes. McDonald’s fish patties today are made from wild Alaskan pollock, a lean fish with a mild flavor similar to cod, another traditional fish sandwich ingredient.
Spina writes that as long as the fish patties have been properly cooked (past 145 degrees Fahrenheit), the worms die and won’t be a health risk to diners. And since McDonald’s deep fries its Filet-O-Fish patties, it easily meets that standard.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich created in Cincinnati
The Filet-O-Fish got its start in Cincinnati in 1962 by Lou Groen, who brought the first McDonald’s franchise to the city, the Enquirer previously reported.
The majority of his customers were Catholic, and at the time it was common for Catholics to avoid meat on Fridays all year long, not just during Lent, the 40-day period of fasting ahead of Easter. Groen created the sandwich as a way to compete with rivals already offering fish on Fridays.
So he developed the batter and tartar sauce, and took it to McDonald’s chief Ray Kroc, who favored a grilled pineapple sandwich as a meat alternative. The Filet-O-Fish has gone on to sell hundreds of millions of sandwiches each year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish may have gross surprise inside. It’s normal
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
