If You Knew Sushi, Like I Know Sushi

Dear Friends,

I am a vegan, and proud of it!
Last night, I made my own sushi. I have learned the
arts of cooking perfect vinegared Japanese rice, and
expertly rolling sheets of dried green nori around
various picked vegetables, thin rice noodles,
marinated shitake mushrooms, gently steamed
carrots and asparagus spears, and picked ginger.
all are eaten with a dab of green wasabi paste and
a dash of fine naturally fermented tamari.

Today's news came a complete surprise to me and
I'll have to adjust future sushi dishes as a result.
I'll immediately omit the outer wrapping of nori or
find an acceptable substitute...perhaps thin tofu
curd sheets. Here's why. I found this new study:

Allergenicity and Allergens of Amphipods Found in Nori

Authors: Kanna Motoyama. et. al.
Affiliations: Department of Food Science and Technology,
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo 108-8477,
Japan, Faculty of Fisheries, Laboratory of Fishery Nutritional
Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
Published in: Food Additives & Contaminants,
Volume 24, Issue 9 September 2007, pages 917 - 922

Abstract

Gammaridean and caprellid amphipods, crustaceans of the order
Amphipoda, inhabit laver culture platforms and, hence, are
occasionally found in nori (dried laver) sheets.

Amphipods mixed in nori may cause allergic reactions in sensitized
patients, as is the case with other crustaceans, such as shrimp and
crab, members of the order Decapoda. In this study, dried samples
of amphipods (unidentified) found in nori and fresh samples of
gammaridean amphipod and caprellid amphipod were examined for
allergenicity and allergens using two species of decapods (black
tiger prawn and spiny lobster) as references.

If you knew Sushi like I know Suzy
Oh, oh what a disappointment.

Robert Cohen
i4crob@...