SHILLONG: A letter submitted to the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has put to rest the fear of the worm-infested meat that made headlines in the city earlier in the month.
The worms found in the meat being sold have been learnt to be harmless to humans.
“These two worms are harmless commonly as horsehair worm. The scientific name of the worm is Nematomorpha: Gordioidea,” ICAR director SV Ngachan stated in the letter addressed to Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, DBS Mukhim.
While referring to the research of extension entomologist for the University of Minnesota, Jeffery Hah on horse hair worms, the ICAR director stated that when horse hair worms are immature they are parasites of insects, arthropods and other invertebrate animals. However, as adults they are “free living and harmless” to people in all stages of their lives.
“In fact, horse hair worms should be considered beneficial because they can be effective in controlling certain insects. Horse hair worms are nothing more than a curiosity. No control is necessary,” Ngachan added.
He further said that these worms emerge especially after rainfall and are also found inside homes and in toilets.
Ngachan said that horsehair worms are harmless to vertebrates, because they can’t parasitize people, livestock, pets or birds.
“If human ingest the worms, they may encounter some mild discomfort of the intestinal tract, but infection never occurs,” the ICAR director said.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills Pork Association while addressing news men on Tuesday said that the report of the ICAR has clearly indicated that the worms which were found inside the pork are not harmful.
“It is now confirmed that the worms are not harmful to humans. This report will remove all the misconception in the minds of the people,”
Association secretary BP Nongrum said.
He, however, admitted that the sale of pork has been badly affected after reports of worm-infested pork meat surfaced.