Why don't we get worms when we eat the dirty skins of potatoes?

Question

It seems like at some point we'd get worms from the dirt on the potatoes, even if we wash them thoroughly. Do the potato farmers have a worm insecticide and if so, then what about the organic potatoes---is the chance of getting worms greater? I know they use organic pesticides but their effectiveness versus chemical insecticides would seem inferior.

I'm referring to the itty-bitty worm eggs in the dirt. Not full-sized worms.

Answer 1

What do mean by worms do you mean real worms or helminths like hook worm or ascaris... or you mean infections from bacteria.


you can get both from eating potato or for that matter any other fruit which is not clean this applies especially to vegetables which grow underground, I have personally seen numerous cases of neurocycticercosis or tape worm larvae going to brain from eating uncooked raw cabbage. all vegetables should be thoroughly washed and peeled before eating them....

take care...
Bye

and do take anti worm medicine...

Answer 2

because worms, practically, inhabitatinf meat food, ot eggs, milk...On potato skins there're not much supportive condition for living, and you might onlt digest some germs, or dirt, in case if you cooked it not washed. But cooking skinned potatoes preserves a meal value of potato.

Answer 3

Well, that is why you are supposed to scrub the potatos before cooking them, and if you cook the potatos, you are also cooking any worms in/on them, so that is just like eating meat.

Answer 4

The kind of earthworms that live in soil are not intestinal parasites, unless you've been fertilizing with untreated sewage.

So I would stop worrying about that, unless you know something about your potato field that's abnormal. Anyway, 99.9% of all potatoes are eaten after being cooked, and that should take care of it, even if there were parasites in the soil.

Answer 5

I scrub my potatoes with a brush and cook them thoroughly. No worm is surviving that. Plus they are kind of crunchy and full of protein.

Answer 6

Your just lucky and there are not worms on those potatoes. Are u trying to get worms, u seem a bit upset that u havent gotten them? geez.

Answer 7

You probably do get the microbes or whatever that causes the worms into your body, but the gastric acids in your stomach kill them off. Not sure, just a guess.

Answer 8

Frally says don't eat dirty potato skins from now on and no problems.

Answer 9

Maybe worms don't like potatoes, they don't know what they're missing!

Answer 10

do you eat them raw? if no, then everything gets cooked off of the potato. so why would you worrie about it in the first place?