With so many people lately discovering unsettling surprises in their food, it’s no wonder viewers were eager to hear advice from someone who knows the industry firsthand. That’s exactly why a video posted by an experienced charter boat worker in California quickly went viral. The man, who said he worked on a charter boat for 15 years, filmed several packs of fish before pulling one aside that contained tilapia. As soon as he realized what he was holding, he issued a blunt warning: “Do not ever buy tilapia.” He went on to claim it is a “[expletive] eating fish,” suggesting it feeds on feces. Unsurprisingly, that claim left many viewers grossed out. He doubled down on his message, stressing, “Do not eat this. It is not good for you.”
The California man then continued offering advice, shifting his focus to the types of fish consumers should avoid. He said that if a package had the words “product of China” on it, people should “throw it back on the shelf. Don’t eat anything from China.” He repeated that same warning when talking about farm-raised fish as well.
From there, he explained what he believes is safe to eat. According to him, fish labeled as coming from Taiwan is usually fine, and anything marked “wild caught” is “good to go.” He then picked up a package of shrimp but dismissed it too, saying it wasn’t a good option because it came from India and was also farm-raised.
One package he did recommend was labeled “product of Argentina. Processed in Peru. Wild caught. Catch method: net trolling.” Because those details indicated the fish was wild-caught, he said it was safe to eat. He ended his video with a clear message to viewers: “Pay attention to the labels on what you’re feeding your families.”
People Reacting to the California Worker’s Video
People were left shocked by everything the California worker said, especially the part about tilapia. Since it might seem like there are problems with any kind of food, one person wrote, “I’m only eating air from now on.” That made another person reply, “Girl, I’m sorry but all the pollution in the air…nah, you can’t eat that either.” Since the man basically said that tilapia eat feces, one woman was left shocked as she realized how she had just eaten it. “I just ate that exact tilapia…. Brand and all,” she wrote. It wasn’t her lucky day. Someone also confirmed what the man said, commenting, “My dad is a chef and always told us to never eat Tilapia, and to never eat anything ‘farmed raised’.”
Not everyone appreciated the California man’s advice. One woman didn’t like how he mentioned China, as she wrote, “‘Don’t eat anything from China.’ Im so tired of this narrative. China isnt the one u need to worry about. Its our govt. FDA’s funding was cut very drastically, to the point of only a few diseases are searched for in our foods.” Another person said, “Villainizing China while the US has dismantled the FDA is HILARIOUS.” Aside from talking about China, someone else justified why people eat tilapia. “First one, $6.99. The second one he showed $22.00 for half the amount. If people could afford to buy better they would,” they wrote. That’s a good point. The man was still nice for wanting to help others.
