Digestive Disorders Health Center

Tapeworms in Humans

Preventing Tapeworms in Humans

Tapeworms are uncommon in the U.S. today because of laws on feeding practices and inspection of the animals we use for food.

You can further reduce your risk of tapeworms by washing your hands before and after using the toilet and by following these food safety tips.

• Avoid raw fish and meat.
• Thoroughly cook meat to temperatures of at least  145 degrees Farehnheit for whole cuts of meat and to at least 160 degrees F for ground meat. Then let it rest for at least 3 minutes before carving or eating.  Safe temperatures for poultry are different. 
• Freeze meat to -4 degrees F for at least 24 hours to kill tapeworm eggs.
• When traveling in undeveloped countries, cook fruits and vegetables with boiled or chemically-treated water before eating.
• Wash hands with soap and hot water before preparing or eating foods.