Is it true about pork?

Question

Not a question for those who don't eat pork for religious reasons but for people who actually knows about pork...:
My friend asked me if I had porkchops in my freezer but I told her no b/c I didn't go grocery shopping yet...
She told me that her nephew said that they did an experiment in high school where you take a can of sprite and pour it on the piece of pork and then minutes later you can see little mico worms coming out the meat...Is this true? It sounds gross but I eat it so I'm wondering why?

Answer 1

Trichinella spiralis

Trichinella spiralis, cause of trichinosis (TRICK-a-NO-sis) is an intestinal roundworm whose larvae may migrate from the digestive tract and form cysts in various muscles of the body. Infections occur worldwide, but are most prevalent in regions where pork or wild game is consumed raw or undercooked. The incidence of trichinosis has declined in the United States due to changes in hog feeding practices. Presently, most cases in this country are caused by consumption of raw or undercooked wild game.

How do people get trichinosis?
People get trichinosis by consuming raw or undercooked meats such as pork, wild boar, bear, bobcat, cougar, fox, wolf, dog, horse, seal, or walrus containing Trichinella larvae.

The illness is not spread directly from person to person.

Symptoms of trichinosis
The first symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain, followed by headaches, eye swelling, aching joints and muscles, weakness, and itchy skin. In severe infections, persons may experience difficulty with coordination and have heart and breathing problems. Death may occur in severe cases.

When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
Abdominal symptoms may appear within 1 to 2 days after eating contaminated meat. Further symptoms (eye swelling and aching muscles and joints) may begin 2 to 8 weeks after infection. Mild cases may assumed to be flu.

Who is at risk for contracting trichinosis?
Persons consuming raw or under cooked pork or wild game.

Persons with weakened immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection, organ transplant recipients, or those individuals undergoing chemotherapy may be at a greater risk for infection.

How to prevent trichinosis
Cook pork and wild game to 160 °F to kill any Trichinella larvae that may be present.

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Taenia saginata/Taenia solium (Tapeworms)

Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) are parasitic worms (helminths). Taeniasis is the name of the intestinal infection caused by adult-stage tapeworms (beef or pork tapeworms). Cysticercosis is the name of the tissue (other than intestinal) infection caused by the larval-stage of the pork tapeworm only.

It is interesting to note that humans are the definitive hosts of both organisms. This means that the reproductive cycle, and thus egg production by the organisms, occurs only within humans. Eggs are passed in human feces and they may be shed into the environment for as long as the worms remain in the intestines (for as long as 30 years). In addition, the eggs may remain viable in the environment for many months.

These diseases are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries where sanitation practices may be substandard and in areas where pork and beef are consumed raw or undercooked. They are relatively uncommon in the U.S., although travelers and immigrants are occasionally infected.

How do people get Taeniasis?
People get Taeniasis by consuming infected beef or pork (raw or undercooked).

Symptoms of Taeniasis
Most cases of infection with adult worms are without symptoms. Some persons may experience abdominal pain, weight loss, digestive disturbances, and possible intestinal obstruction.

Irritation of the peri-anal area can occur, caused by worms or worm segments exiting the anus.

When will symptoms appear? What is the duration?
T. saginata (beef tapeworm) infections appear within 10 to 14 weeks. T. solium (pork tapeworm) infections appear within 8 to 12 weeks.

Taeniasis may last many years without medical treatment.

Who is at risk for contracting Taeniasis?
Anyone consuming infected beef or pork (raw or
undercooked).

Persons with weakened immune systems including those with HIV/AIDS infection, organ transplant recipients, or those individuals undergoing chemotherapy may be at a greater risk for infection.

How to prevent Taeniasis
Cook beef and pork to 160 °F to kill encysted tapeworm larvae that may be present.

How do people get cysticercosis?
People get cysticercosis the following ways:
By consuming food or water contaminated with the eggs of T. solium (pork tapeworm). Worm eggs hatch and the larvae then migrate to various parts of the body and form cysts called cysticerci. This can be a serious or fatal disease if it involves organs such as the central nervous system, heart, or eyes.
By putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a person infected with T. solium.
Some persons with intestinal tapeworms may infect themselves with eggs from their own feces as a result of poor personal hygiene.

Microorganisms
Pork must be adequately cooked to eliminate disease-causing parasites and bacteria that may be present. Humans may contract trichinosis (caused by the parasite, Trichinella spiralis) by eating undercooked pork. Much progress has been made in reducing trichinosis in grain-fed hogs and human cases have greatly declined since 1950. Today's pork can be enjoyed when cooked to a medium internal temperature of 160 °F or a well-done internal temperature of 170 °F.

Some other foodborne micro-organisms that can be found in pork, as well as other meats and poultry, are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. They are all destroyed by proper handling and thorough cooking to an internal temperature of 160 °F.

Answer 2

Sounds ridiculous to me. Maybe what they saw was some sort of chemical reaction, and what came out were the proteins or something, and just looked like worms.

I don't believe for a second that there are live worms in our pork.

Answer 3

No its not true, it is a fact however that when pigs are alive they will eat anything they see they dont care which is why pork has to b fully cooked before consumption to avoid food poisoning.

So what did he say was in this sprite?

Answer 4

The worms actually are in the Sprite and the pork scent makes them blow up big enough to where you can see them.

Answer 5

Totally NOT true. Pork, it's the other white meat!

Answer 6

Oh my god! I hope it's not true! I love pork. I'm going to have to try it for myself. That's disgusting.

Answer 7

Sounds like an old wives tale.

Answer 8

Sounds kind of "urban legend" to me, but if you really want to know why not try it yourself?

Answer 9

I never heard that. It wouldn't stop me from eating it though.

Answer 10

That is not true at all.