“Consuming ginger after eating sushi kills most of the parasites that may be present in the sushi.”

“The authors previously reported that an extract from Zingiber officinale, traditionally eaten along with raw fish and used in traditional Chinese medicine, effectively destroyed Anisakis larvae in vitro. Authentic [6]-shogaol and [6]-gingerol could kill Anisakis larvae at a minimal effective dose of 62.5 and 250 micrograms/ml, respectively.”

“Freezing mitigates the risk of human illness by inactivating parasites in fish that will be consumed raw or undercooked. The requirements for killing depend on the type of parasite, temperature achieved, length of time to reach a final temperature throughout the fish, time held at the optimum temperature, the species of fish, and fat content of the particular fish species.”

“Gingerols and shogaols from ginger show in vitro activity against some nematodes, but clinical evidence for efficacy in humans consuming raw fish with ginger is lacking; concentrations in typical sushi servings are insufficient for parasiticidal effects.”

“Traditional additions to raw fish dishes such as vinegar, lemon juice or salt will not kill the infectious stages of parasites. Freezing the fish for a minimum of seven days (longer for large fish) will kill parasites.”

“To prevent infections from eating sushi, avoid consuming raw or undercooked seafood, particularly if you are immunocompromised, and choose commercially frozen sushi from reputable establishments, as it has better microbiological quality than fresh sushi from sushi bars.”

“Raw seafood may contain different parasites, viruses, and bacteria which make it very important to take steps to prevent foodborne illness. ... Fish that's consumed raw in sushi must be frozen to -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days or -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours. This process will destroy any parasite in the fish making it safer to consume but there's still risk.”

“In vitro trials revealed the clear anti-parasitic effects of ginger. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts, prepared from freeze dried ginger, were tested. Bathing G. turnbulli-infected fish in ethanolic ginger extract significantly reduced infection prevalence and intensity.”

“The possible protective effect of ethanolic extract of ginger against infection with Schistosome mansonii was evaluated in mice. Oral supplementation of ginger extract to infected animals was effective in reducing worm burden and the egg load in the liver and intestine.”

“Eating raw fish is associated with a higher risk of parasitic infections and food poisoning. Although marinating, brining or cold-smoking fish may reduce the number of parasites and bacteria they contain, these methods are not entirely reliable for preventing disease.”

“Several studies have demonstrated the antiparasitic efficacy of ginger extract against multiple parasites such as Schistosoma, T. spiralis, D. immitis, Plasmodium, Giardia and Trypanosomes. ... Our results demonstrated that ginger extract treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the number of T. gondii cysts in the brains of infected mice compared with infected untreated animals.”

“Wasabi not only adds spiciness, but also has antiseptic properties, which is important when eating raw fish. In Japanese culture, it is believed that wasabi is able to destroy bacteria and parasites, that can be present in raw fish, so it is added not only for taste, but also for food safety. Ginger, which is served in pickled form, has a mild, slightly sweet taste. It is used to cleanse the palate between different kinds of sushi.”

“Ginger (Zingiber officinale), a widely used plant in traditional medicine, contains bioactive compounds such as gingerol and zingerone, renowned for their potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties. ... Studies have highlighted ginger's efficacy against a broad spectrum of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms, suggesting its potential utility in enhancing food safety and quality.”

“Regarding raw or pickled ginger consumed with fish, ginger has antimicrobial and some antiparasitic properties, historically used in cuisine for its antiseptic effects. Studies show ginger extracts can be effective against certain fish parasites in aquaculture or in vitro, and the pickled ginger served with sushi may help reduce bacterial contamination and possibly some parasites. However, eating ginger alongside raw fish should not be relied upon as a method to kill parasites in the fish itself. Its benefits are more supportive of hygiene and palate cleansing rather than parasitic elimination.”

“After the parasites were removed, the fish were fixed in commercial alcohol and deposited in the Ichthyology Collection of the State University of Maringá.”

“Anthelmintic (antiparasitic to worms) activity of ginger was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The antischistosomal activity of ginger extract was also reported against Schistosoma mansoni. Gingerol and shogaol were identified as potent molluscicidal constituents of ginger against S. mansoni.”

“The U.S. FDA recommends freezing fish intended for raw consumption (e.g., sushi) at specific temperatures and times to kill parasites like Anisakis, such as -4°F (-20°C) for 7 days or -31°F (-35°C) for 15 hours. No mention of ginger or condiments as a reliable method for killing parasites in raw fish.”

“The freezing process obviously helps the fish last longer, but it also kills any lingering parasites that might have found their way into the flesh. Ginger is meant to be tasted alone, between different rolls to cleanse the palate, to allow the flavor of the next bite to truly come through as it's meant to be.”