CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Can I eat the cod sold at the market for only seven or eight yuan a pound?

The cod sold at the market for 7-8 yuan per pound cannot be eaten because it is not real cod. It is "oil fish". "Oil fish" is the general name for spiny-scaled snake mackerel and heterotrophic snake mackerel. Its commercial value is not high and it is a low-priced fish. Because of its high oil content, it is mainly used to refine industrial lubricants. Eating this kind of "cod" will generally cause stomach cramps and acute diarrhea within 30 minutes to 36 hours after eating "oil fish", which usually recovers within 24 to 48 hours.

Silver cod is a cold-water deep-sea fish with tender meat and rich in various nutrients. It is called the "nutritionist on the table" in Europe, so the cod that is generally eaten refers to silver cod. There are many types of cod, and silver cod is the best. Water cod is also a type of cod, but it is cheap and has much worse nutrition. The real silver cod looks tender, has small scales, and has small silver dots on its body. The price per catty is at least 60 to 70 yuan. If it is lower than this price, it is not silver cod. Silver cod tastes sweet and smooth, and can be eaten raw with horseradish like salmon. Water cod, on the other hand, has loose meat, a lot of water, poor taste, large and hard scales, and a very low price.

The cod sold at the market for 7-8 yuan per pound cannot be eaten because it is not real cod. It is "oil fish". "Oil fish" is the general name for spiny-scaled snake mackerel and heterotrophic snake mackerel. Its commercial value is not high and it is a low-priced fish. Because of its high oil content, it is mainly used to refine industrial lubricants. Eating this kind of "cod" will generally cause stomach cramps and acute diarrhea within 30 minutes to 36 hours after eating "oil fish", which usually recovers within 24 to 48 hours.

Silver cod is a cold-water deep-sea fish with tender meat and rich in various nutrients. It is called the "nutritionist on the table" in Europe, so the cod that is generally eaten refers to silver cod. There are many types of cod, and silver cod is the best. Water cod is also a type of cod, but it is cheap and has much worse nutrition. The real silver cod looks tender, has small scales, and has small silver dots on its body. The price per catty is at least 60 to 70 yuan. If it is lower than this price, it is not silver cod. Silver cod tastes sweet and smooth, and can be eaten raw with horseradish like salmon. Water cod, on the other hand, has loose meat, a lot of water, poor taste, large and hard scales, and a very low price.

Cod has been considered a good baby food because it has no bones. However, most of the cod around us are not real cod. The cod sold in many supermarkets and restaurants are "copycat cod". Their real identity is dragon cod, scientifically known as "Heterotrichum scombroides". They contain wax fat in their bodies. Although it is not poisonous, it is difficult for the human body to digest. After some people eat it, the wax fat will accumulate in the rectum, which can easily lead to diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramps, etc. At present, this kind of fish has been banned or restricted from consumption in many countries.

How to distinguish the authenticity of cod

Although oil fish looks very similar to cod, they are not the same species. There are many trade names for oil fish, including "dragon cod", "imitation cod", "beef oil fish", etc. The cod on the market is sold with the head removed and cut into pieces. It is difficult for ordinary people to distinguish the authenticity of cod, but they can be distinguished by price, scales, and meat quality. The real cod looks tender, with small scales and small silver dots on its body. The price per catty is at least 60 to 70 yuan. If the price is lower than this, it is not silver cod. There are four main differences between oil fish and cod: first, the scales of oil fish vary in size, while cod are relatively uniform; second, oil fish have hard spines, while cod do not; third, the oil content is very different, but it is not easy to distinguish at room temperature; fourth, the taste is different, and cod tastes sweeter and fresher in comparison.

As long as it is alive, you can buy and eat it boldly. Otherwise, you still need to pay attention to food hygiene to stay healthy.