‘I was incredibly grossed out’: H-E-B customer finds worm in sockeye salmon fillet

When Max Salmeron bought a filet of H-E-B’s Alaska Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon last Wednesday, he didn’t expect to find a live “wiggling” worm in his fish.

“There was definitely something fishy about the situation, and it wasn’t my salmon,” the 26-year-old said about the fillet he bought at the H-E-B located at 20935 U.S. Hwy 281 N., near Evans Road.

Salmeron told mySA.com he was “incredibly grossed out” and threw the salmon away. He said he called the store’s seafood department and was told the worm “is normal and safe to eat.”

According to H-E-B, the worm is referred to as nematodes, which can occur naturally in wild fish through their diet. Nematodes can cause Anisakiasis, a parasitic disease, in humans if fish is eaten raw or undercooked, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

READ ALSO: San Antonio woman finds coral snake in dog’s mouth near Leon Valley

Most people experience an upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea from the parasitic disease.

H-E-B said in a statement its sources the freshest wild-caught seafood possible and carefully inspects raw fish products for quality. H-E-B added cooking raw seafood to the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended internal temp of at least 145 Fahrenheit eliminates risks of parasitic disease.

“While the fish is safe to eat, H-E-B will happily replace or refund any product that doesn’t meet our customer satisfaction,” the grocery store chain said in its statement.

According to seafoodhealthfacts.org, it is common to find worms in fish, but it does not present a health concern as long as the fish is cooked properly.

Salmeron said he usually buys the salmon from H-E-B twice a month but plans to back away from the product after his last purchase. He added this is the first time he’s found a worm in his salmon.

“I’m not going to being salmon for a while or even gummy worms for that matter,” he said. “I was incredibly grossed out. I just urge others to check your salmon and to do your research about what type of fish you’re getting, and what kind of worms that are prevalent in the fish.”

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre