Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-01-28
BEWARE RAW PORK.
Warning Is Issued by Depart
ment of Agriculture. =
Disease May Be Contracted by Eating
the Flesh Of Hogs, in Any Form.
Not Thoroughly Cooked -
Timely Hints.

Washington, D. C.-There is always
the possibility that illness may follow
the eating Of pork that is raw or not
thoroughly cooked. The danger II
greatest at this season of the year
when many people prepare for home
consumption various food products
that are customarily eaten without
cooking. More of these homemade
products are prepared at hog-killing
time on the farm than at any other
time.
American people as rule prefer
cooked pork, but there are many who,
perhaps unknowingly. consume pork In
an uncooked condition, either in the
form of raw ham or uncooked sal-
sages. In many localities consider
able amounts of these products are
made up AID consumed at home. or
distributed throughout the neighbor-
hood. Large quantities Of pork prod
ucts intended to be eaten raw are also
prepared commercially.
The disease known as trichinosis.
which may result from eating raw
pork. is caused by certain round
worms. called trichinae. These are
microscopic in size and infest the flesh
of hogs. The prevalence of trichinae
In hogs is indicated by the fact that
during nine years. 1S9S-1906. when the
carcasses of hogs were inspected md
croscopically by federal inspectors, Of
100000 carcasses so inspected, IA
per cent contained living trichinae
and 1.16 per cent contained trichina-
like bodies or disintegrating trich-
nae. In other words and IN round
numbers. trichinae were present in 1
out of II hogs. and II the presence
Of dead trichinae and trichinalike
bodies is included. in 1 out of every
80 hogs
Unlike many other infectious dis
eases. the severity of an attack Of
trichinosis depends upon the number
of parasites swallowed. Large guam
titles of slightly infested pork must
be eaten in order to produce appre-
ciable effects. II severe illness fol-
lows the eating Of small amount Of
the meat, the pork must have been
heavily infested.
To avoid trichinosis, no form of pork
in the raw state, including dried sor
smoked sausages and hams. should be
eaten. All pork used as food should
be cooked thoroughly. II this is done
the value or wholesomeness of the
meat for food purposes is, not i'm
paired by the fact that the parasites
were present in it. .ssk =.
According to specialists of-the de-
partment. trichinae die when sub
jected to a temperature OF about 14O
degrees F. All products containing
pork which are prepared to be sold as
cooked products in establishments op-
Grating under federal meat inspection
are required to be cooked sufficiently
to insure q temperature high enough
to destroy trichinae throughout all
portions of the meat Likewise, In
order to protect consumers who are
careless or ignorant of the danger Of
raw pork products of kinds prepared
customarily to be eaten without cook
ing, such as certain kinds Of hams.
and summer sausages. must be manu-
featured in accordance with methods
which. it has been determined, destroy
the vitality of any trfchihae which
may be present in the pork, II hay
been found by Investigations in the
bureau Of animal industry that II pork
is subjected to a temperature not
higher than degrees F. for 20 days,
the vitality Of all trichinae is de-
stroyed. This Is one method of safe
guarding pork products that are to BE-
eaten without cooking. Other methods
followed in establishments operating
rnder federal meat inspection consist
in curing and drying the products az
cording to certain rules which the
manufacturers are required to follow
Although products that are special
ly prepared for eating uncooked and
bear the mark Of federal inspection,
may be used with safety. the custom
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