When should discarding fish skin be a precautionary health measure irrespective of texture?
Answer
When consuming wild-caught fish from known contaminated waters.
While texture and palatability are primary concerns for most fish consumption, a significant health consideration arises concerning environmental safety. Certain species caught in waters known to harbor higher levels of potential contaminants, pollutants, or toxins may accumulate these substances in their skin and underlying fatty layers. In such cases, experts advise discarding the skin as a sensible, precautionary measure to reduce potential exposure to localized pollutants, even if the skin could be cooked to a perfect crisp.
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