Occurrence of Anisakis spp. larvae in products made of herring (Clupea harengus)

Herrings are the third most commercialized species in the European Union (EUMOFA report, 2017) and common hosts of third stage Anisakisspp. larvae. Different kind of ready to eat (RTE) herring products are available on the market. Although these products undergo technological processes able to kill viable parasites, exposure to dead larvae may cause allergic reactions. Given the scarcity of available data on anisakids in RTE herrings sold on the Italian market, the aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Anisakisspp. larvae in various kind of such products.