Is It Safe to Eat Walmart Salmon Raw? Here’s What I Found Out

I’m a big sushi fan and love a good sashimi plate with fresh raw salmon. Lately I’ve been wondering – can I use the salmon from my local Walmart to make my own homemade sushi and eat it raw? Is Walmart salmon safe to eat raw or is that risky business?

As a broke college student, I like grabbing salmon fillets from Walmart since they’re affordable. But I wasn’t sure if raw Walmart salmon is safe, or if I should only eat sushi-grade salmon raw. I did some digging to find out.

Here’s what I learned about the safety of eating Walmart salmon raw and how to shop for salmon that’s okay to eat raw at home. Let’s dive in!

Is It Safe to Eat Raw Walmart Salmon?

Here’s the deal – raw salmon from Walmart or any regular grocery store is not considered safe to eat raw.

Eating raw salmon bought from a standard grocery store carries some health risks

• Raw salmon can contain parasites. Salmon is one type of fish that is a known carrier of parasitic worms. These worms can live in your intestines and cause nasty symptoms if you eat infected raw salmon. Yuck!

• Raw salmon may have bacteria Salmon can harbor bacteria like salmonella or E coli from improper handling and storage. Cooking kills these bugs, but eating salmon raw means you’re ingesting them too.

• Risk of food poisoning. Eating raw, non-sushi grade salmon puts you at risk for foodborne illness. Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps are no fun.

The main issue is that regular grocery store salmon is not froze at temperatures cold enough to kill parasites and bacteria.

Walmart salmon is flash frozen, which helps reduce risks, but usually not frozen solid at the ultra-low temperatures needed to make raw salmon safe to eat.

So ultimately, salmon sold at average supermarkets like Walmart is not considered safe to eat raw.

How to Buy Salmon That’s Safe to Eat Raw

If you want to eat salmon raw at home, like in homemade sushi, look for fish labeled “sushi-grade” or “sashimi-grade.” Here’s what makes sushi-grade salmon safe to eat raw:

Frozen solid at ultra-low temperatures. Sushi-grade salmon is frozen solid at -31°F (-35°C) or colder for 15 hours or more. This freezing kills any parasites in the salmon.

Well-handled and processed. Sushi-grade fish is handled with care during processing to prevent bacterial contamination.

Freshly thawed. Sushi-grade salmon should be thawed right before eating raw. It should never be refrozen after thawing.

High-quality. Sushi-grade salmon has high fat content and a bright color and sheen. Lower quality fish don’t hold up well when eaten raw.

I did some investigating at local grocery stores to compare regular salmon versus sushi-grade. Here’s what I found:

Walmart Salmon vs. Sushi-Grade Salmon

To get an idea of how Walmart salmon compares to raw-safe sushi-grade salmon, I headed to my local Walmart and specialty Asian grocery store.

Here’s how the two types of salmon stacked up:

Walmart Atlantic Salmon

• Price – $8.98 per lb
• Handling – Individually vacuum sealed; kept on ice
• Label – No mention of sushi- or sashimi-grade
• Texture – Firm and cool to the touch
• Color – Rich orange-red

Sushi-Grade Scottish Salmon

• Price – $14.99 per lb
• Handling – Kept in freezer below 0°F; defrosted to order
• Label – Clearly labeled as sushi-grade
• Texture – Firm, smooth, shiny
• Color – Vibrant pink-orange

It was clear the sushi-grade salmon was the better quality choice for eating raw, based on its labeling, freezing method, texture, and color.

The Walmart salmon looked nice, but without that sushi- or sashimi-grade label, I wouldn’t trust that it’s safe to eat raw.

Tips for Safely Eating Salmon Raw at Home

Stick to reputable grocery stores and fish markets to find high-quality sushi- or sashimi-grade salmon. Once you’ve got your premium salmon, follow these tips for safely eating raw salmon at home:

• Check labels. Only buy salmon clearly labeled “sushi-grade” or “sashimi-grade.” This means it’s safe for raw consumption.

• Look for high-end grocers. Japanese, Korean and other Asian markets are good bets for sushi-grade salmon. High-end grocery chains may also carry it.

• Skip the regular seafood counter. Don’t assume the salmon at a standard supermarket seafood counter is meant for eating raw. Always check for a sushi- or sashimi-grade label.

• Inspect the fish. Look for fresh, raw salmon with a vibrant color and shiny, firm texture. Avoid fish that looks dull, mushy or smells fishy.

• Thaw properly. Defrost frozen sushi-grade salmon overnight in the fridge. Don’t re-freeze after thawing.

• Keep it cold. After thawing, keep sushi-grade salmon chilled on ice or refrigerated until ready to use.

• Prevent cross-contamination. Use a separate cutting board and knife just for the raw salmon to avoid bacteria spread.

The Bottom Line on Walmart Salmon and Raw Consumption

So back to our original question – is it safe to eat raw salmon from Walmart? The answer is no.

Salmon from everyday grocery stores like Walmart is not intended for eating raw. It hasn’t been frozen solid at cold enough temperatures to kill parasites.

Stick to salmon labeled sushi- or sashimi-grade if you want to eat it raw, like in homemade sushi. This specialty salmon undergoes processing and freezing methods that make raw consumption safer.

While raw Walmart salmon is off the table, it’s still great for cooking up salmon patties, salmon cakes, glazed salmon and other yummy cooked salmon recipes.

For the safest and best tasting homemade sushi, splurge on the good sushi-grade stuff. Your belly will thank you!