You love fresh salads, juicy berries, and delicious pork dishes — and you should.

But like all foods, some can carry harmful organisms — including parasites — if not handled, washed, or cooked properly.

The good news?
Parasitic infections from food are rare in countries with strong food safety systems — and almost always preventable.

Let’s explore 5 foods that have been linked to parasitic infections in rare cases — and, more importantly, how to enjoy them safely without fear.

🧫 How Food Can Carry Parasites (Rarely)

Parasites like Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia, or tapeworms can contaminate food through:

• • Contaminated water or soil
  • Poor hygiene during handling

• Undercooking meat
• Cross-contamination in the kitchen

But proper food safety practices — washing, cooking, and storing — break the chain of infection.

✅ 5 Foods That Can Carry Parasites (And How to Stay Safe)

1. Raw or Undercooked Por

• • Risk: Can carry Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) or Trichinella

• Symptoms (if infected): Stomach pain, nausea, muscle pain, fatigue
• ✅ How to stay safe:
  • Cook pork to 145°F (63°C) with a 3-minute rest
  • Avoid raw or rare pork (like undercooked sausages or charcuterie in high-risk areas)