# Tuna fish in can is staring back at lady. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 6, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994 "2015-02-06T19:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/1 "2015-02-06T19:07:46Z")
:eek: Tuna fish isn’t supposed to stare back at you. LOL Anyone ever hear of this before? How did it it avoid getting sliced and diced with the fish? > **[SEE IT: British mom finds tongue-eating parasite inside can of tuna, experts say](https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/02/06/see-it-british-mom-finds-tongue-eating-parasite-inside-can-of-tuna-experts-say/)** > > A British mom opened up a can of parasites when she tried to make tuna for dinner. Zoe Butler found a tiny parasite inside a can of tuna — and scientists said it is likely a tongue-eating var… > [@](#): > > Zoe Butler found a tiny parasite inside a can of tuna — and scientists said it is likely a tongue-eating variety. > > The Nottingham mom found the beady-eyed parasite tucked inside a can of Princes tuna chunks last month. She posted images of the alien-like creature on Twitter, hoping someone could identify her unwelcome dinner guest. > > Finally, she got her answer. The parasite is probably a Cymothoa exigua, also known as the tongue-eating louse, Stuart Hine from London’s Natural History Museum told the Telegraph this week. > > A Cymothoa exigua enters a fish through its gills and attaches to the host’s tongue. The parasites are not considered harmful to humans. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/2 "2015-02-06T19:11:23Z")
I saw this yesterday, when was trending on Facebook. IIRC, it _did_ get sliced and diced–she only got the thing’s head. And no, I hadn’t heard of it, and now I kind of wish I hadn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/3 "2015-02-06T19:18:23Z")
I once got an eye (hopefully from the fish) in a can of salmon. It was sliced along the axis of the iris and was peering right up at me. I saw it for literally .5 of a second before I reflexively trashed the whole can. Never bought another can of salmon, but eat tuna regularly. Thanks straightdope. Those little tongue parasites have been nightmare-fuel for years. Now I’ll never be able to eat another can of tuna without thinking about this article. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/4 "2015-02-06T19:29:36Z")
Well, if it’s canned, it’s nothing but a bit of bonus protein. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/5 "2015-02-06T19:37:00Z")
We don’t want tuna with taste, we want tuna that taste you back. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/6 "2015-02-06T19:41:23Z")
Why that little guy is just cute as the dickens! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/7 "2015-02-06T19:54:54Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I saw this yesterday, when was trending on Facebook. IIRC, it _did_ get sliced and diced–she only got the thing’s head. > > And no, I hadn’t heard of it, and now I kind of wish I hadn’t. I wonder how big these parasites get? I guess the body is sliced up in that can somewhere. Or maybe spread out among several cans. \ That’s protein I don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/8 "2015-02-06T19:56:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wonder how big these parasites get? I guess the body is sliced up in that can somewhere. Or maybe spread out among several cans. \ > > That’s protein I don’t need. [This is how big.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=694620) (Thread) [Picture](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_twFXQlXtIu4/S2PGkIu2QrI/AAAAAAAAAtA/O_GNqzatCYA/s1600-h/cymothoa_exigua.jpg) Grab some brain-bleach before clicking. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/9 "2015-02-06T20:19:28Z")
No tongue exsanguinating, but I’ll just leave [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Giant_isopod.jpg) [here](http://mentalfloss.com/article/56278/18-awesome-facts-about-giant-isopods)… (p.s. the second prefilled google search is on them as pets!) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/10 "2015-02-06T20:31:56Z")
Perfect username and thread combination. I was hoping thelurkinghorror would join the discussion. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/11 "2015-02-06T20:44:38Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [This is how big.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=694620) (Thread) > > [Picture](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_twFXQlXtIu4/S2PGkIu2QrI/AAAAAAAAAtA/O_GNqzatCYA/s1600-h/cymothoa_exigua.jpg) > Grab some brain-bleach before clicking. 😃 Why, why for the love of god, why! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/12 "2015-02-06T21:38:58Z")
THe least the tuna company could do is offer some good recipes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/13 "2015-02-07T23:25:36Z")
I would not click links in this topic even for money… ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/14 "2015-02-08T17:04:21Z")
How can this happen? The tongue parasite is in the fish’s mouth, and it’s not like they take a whole tuna and drop it into a meat grinder. Who’s in the know? How is whole tuna processed to produce canned tuna? ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/15 "2015-02-08T17:18:35Z")
I am now thinking that the 3 cans of tuna in my cupboard may just sit there for a loooooong time unopened. Until I forget all about this and think of tuna as good food again. Or at least until the brain bleach starts working. Excuse me now, I have to go get more brain bleach. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/16 "2015-02-08T18:56:44Z")
[Mother of God!](https://www.google.com/search?q=Cymothoa+exigua&rlz=1C1SKPC_enUS368&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3rDXVJiaJcOjNu2tgcgM&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=767) I thought it was going to be a tuna eyeball staring back, not the stuff of nightmares. I thank Neptune I gave up eating tuna a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/17 "2015-02-09T10:52:24Z")
> [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](#): > > I am now thinking that the 3 cans of tuna in my cupboard may just sit there for a loooooong time unopened. Until I forget all about this and think of tuna as good food again. Or at least until the brain bleach starts working. > > Excuse me now, I have to go get more brain bleach. Yep. We read about this last week and usually have a tuna sandwich once a week; it’ll be a while before we do again. It’s not logical, but the thought of eating tuna now turns my stomach. Which is probably a good thing since it’s not really an ethical food choice anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/18 "2015-02-09T13:54:51Z")
Oh, get over it, that thing grew up eating nothing but tuna, it’s practically tuna itself. Yes, I’m working up the self-deception ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuna-fish-in-can-is-staring-back-at-lady/711994/19 "2015-02-09T14:10:06Z")
It’s SEE food after all.