Tag: Wax esters

Up to 67% of people eating certain species like oil fish have reported experiencing severe gastrointestinal distress. The reason you can't eat oil fish without risk is a naturally occurring, indigestible oil that causes unpleasant, oily diarrhea known as keriorrhea.

According to the Queensland Government, investigations into Australian outbreaks suggest that between 45 and 67 percent of people may become ill after eating escolar. The primary problem with escolar lies in its high concentration of indigestible wax esters, which can lead to a specific type of gastrointestinal distress known as keriorrhea. This issue is compounded by the common practice of mislabeling escolar as other, more expensive types of fish.

According to reports, consuming deep-sea fish like escolar can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues in some people due to its high content of naturally occurring, indigestible wax esters. This guide explains what foods contain these specific compounds and how to safely navigate seafood choices to avoid unpleasant side effects.

A single meal of certain oily fish, like escolar, containing high levels of wax esters can trigger a condition known as keriorrhea, characterized by oily diarrhea. This phenomenon raises a critical question: can humans digest wax esters at all, or are they entirely indigestible?