A Korean TikTok user recently sparked a debate about eating raw salmon from Costco. In her video posted on August 31, the user, Sarah (@madeinkorea___), showcased her experience of slicing Costco salmon into sashimi, served with wasabi and soy sauce. She captioned her post, “Most Americans probably wouldn’t do this, but Koreans often eat it like this.” She added, “My husband doesn’t believe in ‘sushi grade’; we’ve been doing this for years and we’re still alive.”

However, the comment section was filled with skepticism. Many viewers voiced their concerns, stating, “I’m Korean too, but we never eat sashimi that isn’t ‘sushi grade,'” and “I’ve found worms in Costco salmon before.” Another commenter warned, “Salmon is one of the fish with the highest levels of parasites; it should at least be frozen for a few days before eating.”

It’s important to note that the term “sushi grade” is not an official safety designation but rather a label used by sellers to indicate the fish is considered safe to eat raw. The FDA advises that to eliminate the risk of parasites, raw fish should be frozen at -4°F (-20°C) or below for seven days or at -31°F (-35°C) or below for 15 hours to be considered safe for consumption. As of now, it remains unclear whether Costco adheres to these freezing regulations for the salmon they sell.