Amanda wrote:

> Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>>On 15 Jun 2006 11:20:23 -0700, Amanda wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Does anyone know whether it is safe to eat those stuff via cooking the
>>>way the SE Asians cook? I have a friend from Thailand syaing that she
>>>doesn't cook the fish paste because there are parasite in those
>>>products. Don't those parasite die when you cook?
>>
>>It is a well-established fact that many people who post using
>>Google are gullible and susceptible to all sorts of parasites.
>>Millions of people eat that stuff every day and don't get
>>parasites, but I would stay away from it if I were you.
>
>
> Growing up in an SE Asian country - we are not SE Asian indeginous , my
> family didn't use any of those. In US, we, the siblinsg, at least
> started using fish sauce in a few certain ethnic dishes partly because
> we can make what Mom made to replace that ingredient. Lately, after
> becoming friends with some people who love those fish paste dishes, I
> tried it (when I visted them) and liked some of the ways it was made
> but not enough to make it at my place. Smell is too strong. Also, it
> only goes with rice and I can't eat too much rice.
>
> Recently, when asking a friend who is from Thailand but Chinese
> ethnically how people cook it in Thailand, I was surprised at her
> comment abpot the parasite. She did say that it was when some people
> eat it raw. These people did have health problem from it. But
> parasite is not just in that thing (bottled raw fish paste) only and so
> I guess it is not a dangerous food source such that those parasite
> would not get killed.
>
> What is your reason of suggesting me to stay away from it? Smell or
> other reasons?

Amanda - he's playing with you. As long as the thing is cooked properly
there is no reason why it should be unsafe. As he said, why would
millions of people be using something if it was so unhealthy?

Also, some things, such as fish sauce, don't smell very good, but they
combine deliciously with other spices and sauces.

Ian