Chiang Mai Man Finds Parasitic Eggs in Buffalo Offal
A Chiang Mai man preparing som tam discovered hundreds of parasitic eggs in buffalo offal, forcing him to abandon the raw meat dish and cook a curry instead.
A Chiang Mai man's plan to make som tam with buffalo meat and offal took an unpleasant turn when he discovered hundreds of parasitic eggs in the organs. On September 28, Peeraphat, a 40-year-old from Chiang Mai, bought 2 kilograms of buffalo meat and offal at 300 baht per kilogram to prepare the popular raw meat salad for friends at a casual lunch gathering on a rainy day.
While preparing the dish, he noticed the gallbladder was covered with tiny white granules resembling tapioca pearls—actually parasitic eggs. When he blanched the organ, the eggs floated to the surface of the pot, with many still clinging to the tissue. The sight was unsettling and left a lasting impression.
With the discovery of so many parasitic eggs, he could no longer prepare the som tam as planned. Instead, Peeraphat decided to switch to making a mild curry that required cooking, abandoning the raw meat salad entirely. He said the cooked curry was equally delicious, just as satisfying as som tam, and importantly, safe from parasitic infection and disease.
