The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-01-20
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 is
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 a rule prefer
cooked pork, but there are many who,
perhaps unknowingly, consume pork IN
an uncooked condition, eithSr in the
form of raw ham or uncooked sau-
sages. In many localities consider
able amounts of these products are
made up and 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,
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, 1S98-1906, when the
carcasses of hogs were inspected mi
croscopicalIy by federal inspectors, of
100000 carcasses so inspected, 1.41
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 if 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-
cable effects. If 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 or
smoked sausages and hams, should be
eaten. All pork used as food should
be cooked thoroughly. If 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 1t.
According to specialists of the de-
partment, trichinae die when sub
jected to 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 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, SQCu Us C6TIdlu hIuuS VI udulo,
and summer sausages, must be manu-
featured in accordance with methods
which, it has been determined, destroy
the vitality of any trichinae which
may be present in the pork. 1t has
been found by Investigations in the
bureau of animal industry that if pork
is subjected to a temperature not
higher than 5 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
under federal meat inspection consist
in curing and drying the products &C
cording to certain rules which the
manufacturers gre required to follow.
Although products that are special
" prepared fos eating uncooked and
bear the mari of federal inspection,
may be used With safety, the custom
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