The spread of fish tapeworm due to Roman conquest is well documented, and the only good explanation is garum. And I believe that larval cysts can survive pretty rough conditions, including high salinity.
The “right” way to get rid of them would be by heat, but you can’t simply use cooked fish to make garum, it denatures the proteins required for the fish flesh to decompose “the right way”.
But the most concerning part isn’t even the parasites you’re ingesting directly from garum. Sure, they’ll get into your belly, and you’ll become their definitive host. The problem is its offspring being literally shitted onto the soil, in a time where proper sanitation was non-existent; once you ingest their eggs, you’re taking the role of the intermediate host, and they’ll nest themselves across your flesh and brain.
how would the parasites survive the garum making process? like that shit is saturated with salt and left in a jar for months!
The spread of fish tapeworm due to Roman conquest is well documented, and the only good explanation is garum. And I believe that larval cysts can survive pretty rough conditions, including high salinity.
The “right” way to get rid of them would be by heat, but you can’t simply use cooked fish to make garum, it denatures the proteins required for the fish flesh to decompose “the right way”.
But the most concerning part isn’t even the parasites you’re ingesting directly from garum. Sure, they’ll get into your belly, and you’ll become their definitive host. The problem is its offspring being literally shitted onto the soil, in a time where proper sanitation was non-existent; once you ingest their eggs, you’re taking the role of the intermediate host, and they’ll nest themselves across your flesh and brain.