What To Do If You Eat Raw Pork [Tips]
Have you ever eaten raw pork by accident? If that’s the case, you could now be experiencing some worry or even fear.
A number of health issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping, can be brought on by consuming raw pork.
In addition, it may result in more severe conditions like trichinosis, a parasite infection that can result in fever, headache, muscular discomfort, and even death.
We’ll discuss what to do if you inadvertently consume raw pork in this blog post.
So, if you’ve ever been in this situation, read on and learn how to protect your health and safety!
What To Do If You Eat Raw Pork
You should seek medical assistance right away if you’ve eaten raw pork since it can lead to serious and even fatal foodborne infections like trichinosis.
To reduce the danger of transferring the virus to others, stay hydrated and maintain excellent hygiene in the interim.
Pork that is raw or undercooked should not be eaten since it might make you sick.
Pork must always be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 145 °F (63 °C) in order to eradicate any dangerous germs or parasites.
Things to do if you eat raw pork mistakenly
The following are some common things you can do if you mistakenly eat raw pork:
- Wash your hands thoroughly: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to avoid the spread of any bacteria.
- Drink water: Drink plenty of water to help flush out any potential pathogens from your system.
- Take antacids: Antacids like Tums or Rolaids can neutralize stomach acid and help prevent the spread of bacteria in the gut.
- Avoid drinking alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol or other beverages that can dehydrate you.
- Eat some activated charcoal or take an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication to help bind any toxins in your digestive system.
- Wait and observe symptoms: Symptoms of food poisoning can appear within hours of consumption and last for several days. Observe for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
- Contact a healthcare provider: Consult a doctor immediately if you start experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or fever, as these could indicate a foodborne illness.
- Practice good food hygiene: Proper food hygiene practices, such as washing produce and separating raw meats from ready-to-eat foods, can help prevent foodborne illness.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat in the future to prevent similar incidents.
Dangers of eating raw pork
The following are some of the most common dangers of eating raw pork:
- Trichinosis: Trichinella spiralis, a parasite, is the cause of trichinosis. Symptoms including muscular discomfort, fever, and edema may result from it. In extreme circumstances, it may result in issues with the heart and lungs.
- Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasma gondii is the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It can result in flu-like symptoms and can be especially risky for expectant mothers since it can cause birth abnormalities.
- Salmonella and E. coli: Bacteria that can result in food poisoning include salmonella and E. coli. Food poisoning signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping in the stomach.
- Anisakiasis: The Anisakis worm is the source of anisakiasis. It may cause symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort. In extreme circumstances, it may obstruct the digestive tract.
- Yersiniosis: Yersinia enterocolitis is the bacteria that causes yersiniosis. It may cause symptoms including fever, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort.
- Listeria: Listeriosis is a disease that can be brought on by the bacteria listeria. Serious symptoms including meningitis, sepsis, and inflammation of the brain may result from this.
- Campylobacter: The bacteria campylobacter is one that can lead to campylobacteriosis. It may cause symptoms including fever, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort.
- Staphylococcus aureus: A kind of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus can result in staphylococcal food poisoning. It may cause symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. In extreme circumstances, it may result in low blood pressure and dehydration.
Read more about the topic: Will raw meat kill you.
Common symptoms of eating raw or undercooked pork
Eating raw or undercooked pork can lead to food poisoning and symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Fever
Trichinella spiralis, a parasite typically found in undercooked or raw pork products, maybe the source of these symptoms.
Pork must be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F in order to eradicate any dangerous germs or parasites and lower the risk of contracting a foodborne disease.
Timeframe for symptoms to appear
After ingesting raw or undercooked pork, symptoms might start to show up as soon as a few hours or as late as several days later.
In general, symptoms start to show up 12 to 48 hours after intake, although they can sometimes take a week or more to manifest.
The quantity of tainted pork ingested and the person’s sensitivity to the parasite can both affect how long it takes for symptoms to manifest.
It’s crucial to get medical assistance right away if you have consumed raw or undercooked pork and are suffering symptoms.
How severe the symptoms can be
The amount of infected pork ingested and a person’s immune system can have a big impact on how severe the symptoms are.
Sometimes, symptoms are minor and go away on their own after a couple of days.
In some situations, symptoms could be worse and cause consequences, like:
- Dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting
- Inflammation of the muscles, heart, and nervous system
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Anemia
- Convulsions
In serious situations, hospitalization can be necessary.
If you have consumed raw or undercooked pork and are having symptoms, you should contact a doctor right away since fast treatment can help lower the chance of problems.
Prevention of Eating Raw Pork
Due to the possibility of contracting parasites like Trichinella spiralis, Taenia solium, and Toxoplasma gondii as well as the possibility of contracting foodborne diseases from germs like Salmonella and E. coli, raw pork should not be eaten.
It is advised to cook pork for at least 15 seconds to an internal temperature of 145 °F (63 °C) in order to prevent infection.
It’s also critical to use excellent food safety practices, such as washing your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat and storing raw pig in the right way.
- Cook pork thoroughly: To get rid of any dangerous germs and parasites, cook pork until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Wash hands and kitchen surfaces: To stop the transmission of germs, wash your hands as well as any kitchen surfaces that have come into touch with raw pork.
- Avoid cross-contamination: Keep raw pork apart from dishes that are ready to consume to avoid cross-contamination.
- Store properly: Store raw pork correctly by either freezing it for later use or keeping it in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Use it within 2 to 3 days.
- Store raw pork separately from other food items to prevent cross-contamination.
- Practice good food safety habits, such as regularly cleaning surfaces and utensils that come into contact with raw meat.
- Consult a doctor if necessary: If you develop any symptoms after eating raw pork, such as stomach discomfort, diarrhea, or fever, consult a doctor right once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after consuming raw pork do symptoms start to appear?
After eating pork that was either raw or undercooked, symptoms may start to show up right away or may take several days to manifest.
Can you get ill after having one serving of raw pork?
Just one serving of raw or undercooked pork may get you sick, especially if it contains dangerous parasites or germs.
Pork should always be cooked thoroughly to lower the risk of contracting a foodborne disease.
What must I do if I unintentionally consumed raw pork?
The moment you see any signs of food poisoning, you should get help from a doctor.
Avoid solid foods until your symptoms are better and drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Is it possible to treat or prepare raw pork to make it safe to consume?
Yes, in order to eradicate any potentially hazardous germs or parasites, raw pork must be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F.
What health effects might eating raw pork cause?
Typical signs and symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort.
In extreme circumstances, it may result in life-threatening conditions like trichinosis.
Is it dangerous to your health to consume raw pork?
Yes, eating pork that is raw or undercooked can be unhealthy for you since it may carry dangerous germs and parasites including Trichinella spiralis, Salmonella, and E. coli.
Learn more about pork vs beef.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are precautions you can take if you unintentionally consume raw pork to lower your chance of getting sick and guarantee a full recovery.
If you experience any of the side effects of eating raw pork, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps, be sure to get medical help.
Practice food safety precautions as well to stop such occurrences in the future.
You may be confident that you are taking the proper steps to safeguard your health and safety if you adhere to these recommendations.