Monsters Inside Me : Menu Items Containing Parasites : Animal Planet

Menu Items Most Likely to Contain Parasites

By Robert Lamb, HowStuffWorks.com

HowStuffWorks

Little parasites can have a huge financial impact. Explore 10 of the costliest food recalls at HowStuffWorks.com.

1. HAM AND PORK SANDWICHES

Interestingly enough, one of the more statistically risky menu items isn't even raw. The USDA, FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank simple deli meat right at the top of their lists for Listeria monocytogenes infection. These meats often feature extended refrigerated storage times, during which L. monocytogenes has adequate time to thrive. The lesson here is to use fresh deli meat and only frequent sandwich shops that are going to do the same.

Pork poses a host of other parasitic risks as well if undercooked or poorly stored. Pork tapeworms pose a severe threat in that they sometimes spread to a host's eyes, spine or brain with potentially fatal results. A Trichinella worm infection offers a similar array of dire symptoms, ranging from nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and fever to muscle pain, chills, heart problems and even death. So when considering that roadside barbecue purchase or vending machine ham sandwich, exercise a little caution. You might spare yourself a whole lot of parasites.

Again, you can't beat cleanliness and fresh ingredients when choosing a restaurant. When all else fails, order it well done.

Delve further into the bizarre, frightening and fascinating world of parasites and parasitic infection:

Livin' La Vida Parasita Find out how parasites affect our mind, our health and our lives in this series of articles from HowStuffWorks.com.		MONSTERS INSIDE ME Videos What happens when humans fall prey to parasites? Watch the shocking, gruesome and sometimes deadly details of parasitic infection.
Meet the Parasites Meet deadly parasites; learn about their life cycles and the infections they cause; see amazing pictures, incredible video and more.		Rate Disgusting Parasite Habits From blood-sucking to brain-eating, rate revolting parasite habits on a scale from "gross" (0) to "I think I'm going to vomit" (10).
Parasite Pictures and Wallpaper See detailed, computer-generated images of parasites in our bodies, and download your favorites to your desktop!		About MONSTERS INSIDE ME Sometimes the scariest monsters are the smallest. Find out more about this Animal Planet series.

SOURCES:

Parasites in Marine Fishes
Quantitative Assessment of Relative Risk to Public Health from Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes Among Selected Categories of Ready-to-Eat Foods
Steak & Lamb Tartare
How Much Actual Hamburger Is in Your Big Mac? Frighteningly Little
Trichinellosis Fact Sheet

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