Is your restaurant secretly serving you Garbage fish?

Is your restaurant secretly serving you Garbage fish and ruining your idea of an exquisite indulgence? Well, most restaurants around the world serve Tilapia fish and give it an exotic twist by cooking it with spices and herbs. This is because it is one of the most farmed fish around 120 countries across the world. Interestingly, health experts and global gourmands call this fish as Trash fish or Garbage fish, but do you know why? Read on to find out…

Tilapia fish is popularly known as Garbage fish or Trash fish, firstly because it feeds on algae and a variety of foods. Secondly, because of its affordability and availability. Properly farmed Tilapia is deemed safe for consumption, but there have been cases where it was found that the fish was raised in unhygienic conditions and it was found feeding on poultry waste and poop.

The main reason why this fish is popularly called as Garbage fish is because of its natural feeding habits and farming conditions. Properly farmed Tilapia are fed on soybean and corn meals to make them nutritious and healthy. However, in absence of proper and hygienic farming, this fish feeds on algae, insects and even poop, this is why most health experts believe that this fish is not safe to eat, when extracted from the wild and unhygienic ponds/ farms.

Tilapia hygienically raised in farms is not only clean, but is also great for health as it is rich in essential nutrients like protein, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. In fact, as per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tilapia is one of the best fish choices for pregnant or breastfeeding women and kids over the age of 2 years. This is majorly due to its low mercury and contaminant content.

The best way to reap the benefits of this fish is to buy it from trusted sources/ farms. Apart from that, cleaning the fish thoroughly and marinating it with salt, turmeric in lukewarm water is another way to ensure that the fish has no germs or pathogens. This fish can be grilled, pan fried or baked, but it is advised to cook properly before eating.