why is it unhealthy to eat raw pork but not to eat raw beef?

Question

i mean wen ur cookin on the grill... u hav to have the pork all the way done but wen ur grillin steak or sumfin... it can be rare or sumfin... i'm confused... its just an animal... right?

Answer 1

Uncooked pork carries several diseases. Until recently, it was safer to eat raw beef, but these days, it's not. Several states have outlawed things like Steak Tartare.

Answer 2

Pork can carry trichinosis, which is a parasite--as in, a roundworm. Cooking the pork thoroughly kills off any of the worms in any stage of development. These roundworms penetrate all layers of the muscle, so that's why you have to cook pork all the way through. Cooking just the surface won't kill the worms inside the muscle. Beef doesn't carry this parasite, so it's generally safer to eat it uncooked. However, both meats can carry harmful bacteria--that's why it's not a good idea to eat raw *ground* beef, unless you have just ground it fresh yourself. Cooking a steak, for example, just on the outside, with the inside remaining (for all intents and purposes) raw is fine, since that part hasn't been exposed to air and therefore doesn't have the harmful bacteria.

Answer 3

Eating undercooked pork use to be advised against because most pigs were "ground raise"... therefore, all 4 little hooves in the dirt or mud. The problem with that is that pigs have sweat glands in their feet..e.g. openings in the muck and mire. So, sometimes in the dirt and mud there is this little parasite called trichinosis. It gets into the blood stream and causes
"Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal discomfort are the first symptoms of trichinellosis. Headaches, fevers, chills, cough, eye swelling, aching joints and muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, or constipation follow the first symptoms. If the infection is heavy, patients may experience difficulty coordinating movements, and have heart and breathing problems. In severe cases, death can occur." Not good on anyone.
However, most pigs are raised in pens now and above the muck and mire... although, there are plenty of nasty little things out there that are as dangerous and even more unpleasant from food... cooked or uncooked... e.g mad cow disease and it has nothing to do with how much you make it look and taste like leather...:)

Answer 4

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/communicable_diseases/en/trich.htm

What is trichinosis?

Trichinosis is a food-borne disease caused by a microscopic parasite.

Who gets trichinosis?

Anyone who eats undercooked meat of infected animals can develop trichinosis. Pork products are implicated more often than other meats.

How is trichinosis spread?

Animals such as pigs, dogs, cats, rats and many wild animals (including fox, wolf and polar bear) may harbor the parasite. When humans eat infected pork that has been improperly cooked, they become infected. Improperly cooked wild animal meat may also be responsible for infecting humans. person to person spread does not occur.

What are the symptoms of trichinosis?

The symptoms usually start with fever, muscle soreness, pain and swelling around the eyes. Thirst, profuse sweating, chills, weakness and tiredness may develop. Chest pain may be experienced since the parasite may become imbedded in the diaphragm (the thin muscle separating the lungs from abdominal organs).

How soon after infection do symptoms appear?

The incubation period varies depending upon the number of parasites in the meat and the amount eaten. It can range from five to 45 days but is usually 10 to 14 days.

Does past infection with trichinosis make a person immune?

Partial immunity may develop from infection.

What is the treatment for trichinosis?

A drug called mebendazole is used in treatment.

What can be the effect of not being treated for trichinosis?

Failure to treat could be fatal.

What can be done to prevent the spread of trichinosis?

The best prevention is to make sure that pork products are properly cooked. The desirable temperature is at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Storing infected meat in a freezer with a temperature no higher than -13 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 days will also destroy the parasite.

Answer 5

Unfortunately raw pork contains a TON of parasites. If you don't cook it thoroughly, you'll ingest a parasite and get really really sick. Pigs are very unclean animals. They wallow in mud, dirt and their own crap. Cows however do not, and they do not have the parasites that pigs do. So make sure to cook your food all the way through.

Answer 6

ummm since when is it healthy to eat raw beef? I do know that uncooked pork gets a lot more attention because of the chance of worms and parasites, but beef can contribute e. coli bacteria, which can kill you if in large enough doses!

Answer 7

Pork has been the scapegoat for trichinosis(sp?)for far too long...there has not been one case of it in like 90 yrs. I personally like mine cooked medium, for the best flavor and moistness(wd?). Those rules no longer apply, pork is alot cleaner than it used to be, and one of the safest meats...it could be argued that beef should be cooked all the way...mad cow...

Answer 8

Pigs are generally possessed of a parasite called Trichinosis that will kill you. Beef is not terribly healthy, but it tends not to have deadly parasites.

Answer 9

You can get sick from any raw meat. Salmonella, bacteria, etc grow on uncooked meat. Every meat should be well done. People who eat medium cooked or raw meat will get sick sooner or later..

Answer 10

pork is filled with parasites... and i heard that in order to completely kill all of the parasites in pork it has to be cooked at an extremely high temperature