Deadly Thai Dish Linked To Cancer Risks Millions Still Ignore

Despite the clear dangers, many locals continue to indulge in this deadly delicacy.

If you’re someone who cares about what you eat, you’re probably mindful about having certain foods in moderation.However, with one particular dish, even a single serving might be too much.

As we age, making smarter food choices becomes increasingly essential, and some foods are best avoided altogether.

This is especially true for a Thai dish that has been linked to the deaths of approximately 20,000 people each year.

At first glance, the ingredients in this dish might not seem especially dangerous.However, a closer look at the source of one of its key components reveals a serious health hazard.

Known as Koi Pla, this dish features minced raw fish combined with lemon juice, herbs, and spices.

Despite its appearance as a simple salad, especially among the Lao people in Laos and Isan, Koi Pla has earned a deadly reputation.

Millions of people enjoy this dish every year. However, it isn’t simply the raw fish that poses the risk.

Instead, it’s what comes with the fish that makes it potentially lethal.

Locals are hesitant to the change due to the taste and convenience of the meal.Wikimedia Commons

Reports indicate that the fish used in Koi Pla is often sourced from bodies of water in the Mekong region, which are contaminated with parasitic flatworms.Medical professionals warn that these flatworms are responsible for bile duct cancer, a disease that has given East Asia the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rates of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in the world.

One individual leading the fight against Koi Pla is Dr. Narong Khuntikeo, a liver surgeon who tragically lost both of his parents to liver cancer after they consumed the dish.“It’s a very big health burden around here,” he shared with Agence France-Presse.

“But nobody knows about this because they die quietly, like leaves falling from a tree.”

In 2017, Dr. Khuntikeo took his efforts to a new level by bringing together a team of scientists, medical experts, and anthropologists to combat what he refers to as a “silent killer.”

Koi pla is said to claim the lives of 20,000 Thai people each year.Wikimedia Commons

Over the course of four years, he and his team conducted extensive testing in Isaan villages, using ultrasound machines and urine test kits to detect the deadly parasite.Their findings were alarming. In some communities, as many as 80 percent of the residents had ingested the parasite.

Despite the gravity of the issue, Dr. Khuntikeo has faced resistance, particularly from older generations, when trying to raise awareness.

“They’ll say: ‘Oh well, there are many ways to die,'” he explained.“But I cannot accept this answer.”

Meanwhile, Boonliang Konghakot, a farmer from the Khon Kaen province, remains unfazed, stating: “I used to come here and just catch the fish in the pond…it’s so easy to eat raw.”

Another villager participating in Dr. Khuntikeo’s screening efforts, Thanin Wongseeda, admitted:“I’ve never been checked before, so I think I will probably have it because I’ve been eating (koi pla) since I was little.”