Is eating some raw food safe?

Question

I ask this because, as a very young child my dad would always give me raw oysters, steak, fish, but as I've grown up other people have told me that it's discusting and I could have gotten really sick and how horrible of my dad to feed me those things.

Are people just super paranoid or is there really that great of a risk? I never once got sick, I can still eat raw beef and I'm fine.

Answer 1

People all over th eworld have been eating raw food for centuries and they are still thriving. Koreans regularly eat raw beef and fish, the Japanese have made sushi incredibly popular, even in Mexico they eat raw fish and oysters.

Eating raw foods is not unheard of, but what you should be careful of is that yes, diseases can be spread through uncooked meats. Salmonella is easy to get through chicken and eggs, e-coli is one that scares everyone with beef, and raw pork is still not a good idea wherever you go. The trick is to find a place that serves FRESH raw meats, has a good reputation, and has a good turnover on its food. DON'T eat raw hamburger as that is the fastest way to get e-coli and remember that the US has some very disturbing meat handling practices, i.e. read Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"

Answer 2

People are just paranoid these days. Everyone now has to have antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, they have to spray lysol on everything, etc...

Years ago we had none of this, and we all turned out OK

Raw beef is delicous, tartar, carpacio, and the wonderful ethiopian dish that I can't remember the name of at the moment. I won't eat any steak cooked more than mid-rare.

Raw fish (sashimi) is better than cooked

You do need to make sure these things have been stored properly, if they are I see no problem with them.

Answer 3

There was a time when I ate raw oysters and beef too, and I still eat sushi. However, with the deplorable conditions in farms these days, the meats and poultry are injected with antimicrobial chemicals because the meat is so infested with fecal matter and other toxins. I wouldnt eat meat cooked today, let alone raw. As for the oysters, I wouldnt eat wild ones due to pollution, I would eat farm raised oysters tho.

edit: After learning the truth about commercial milk, I switched to raw milk and dairy products-raw butter, raw cheese, You can read about it on my blog if you like. Here is the link
http://360.yahoo.com/profile-8un2KqU5fqcymrT5VxB0z8D4HEMAF4PLG8OJLQ--?cq=1

Answer 4

Fresh raw beef and fish are just fine. As long as they are exceptionally fresh. There is no greater risk eating raw oysters as there are eating them steamed. occasionally you may get a bad one...but it wont kill you. And actually your dad did a good thing by introducing you to some different kinds of foods at a young age and widened your pallet. Lots of kids are stuck with McDonald's.....now that's bad for you!

Answer 5

There is a risk, but some people are super paranoid. Case in point, at a favorite hibachi restaurant of mine people always get the filet cooked well done. That KILLS it. People wince and holler when I ask to have it cooked rare.

Also, sushi and other raw stuff like that is fine and good for you. Oysters can be tough to deal with cos they can make you sick (REALLY sick), but if you like them then eat 'em! You can get sick eating ANYTHING these days. People who tell you your dad is a bad man for feeding you those things are morons.

Answer 6

I was watching wife swap last night and there is this family who has eaten nothing but raw meat for the past year. They even eat aged meat that is a couple months old. They were saying cooked food is bad for you.

Answer 7

Raw oysters and raw fish are great, in fact I'm convinced that that is the way we should eat them all the time!
Other animals eat raw meat, why should we be any different?
You just like your meat extra rare.

Answer 8

The only foods I can think of that pose a threat to small children are honey (2 year olds or under should not eat it) and anything that is a choking hazard, like peanuts or hot dogs etc.

Answer 9

Raw vegetables are safe but I would not trust raw meat.

Answer 10

120 Raw Food Recipes : http://RawFoodHappys.com/Help