Can you die from eating pork?

Answer 1

You can not get Swine Flu from eating cooked pork. It is not "in" the meat. It could be "on" the meat if someone preparing and packaging the meat sneezed on it or coughed on it, though. When cooked at normal cooking temperatures, however, any flu virus that might be contaminating the uncooked meat will be killed by the heat. Just use the normal safe-handling techniques for preparing and cooking meats and there should be no problem.

Answer 2

No. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have said you can notget swine flu from eating properly prepared pork. But be sure to thoroughly cook it to kill any virus that could be on the outside of the raw meat from contamination during handling in the marketing process. Influenza virus is destroyed by heat of 167-212°F (75-100°C).

And, as always, use the safe handling procedures as you should with all raw meats to prevent infection by other potential microbes as well. Wash hands well after touching uncooked meats and before touching other objects or foods. Keep foods that are to be eaten uncooked from touching areas where the raw meat has been in contact, until those areas (counters, sinks, cutting boards, etc.) are thoroughly cleaned.

Several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics for use on skin)*, and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands or counter tops. *(Iodophors may stain.)

The waterless sanitizing alcohol-based gel hand cleaners should be rubbed into hands until they are dry. Use the ones that contain a minimum of 60% alcohol. When washing hands with soap, use warm water and rub soapy hands together for a minimum of 20 - 30 seconds so that friction can help remove the germs. (Tip: To know when you can stop and rinse, sing Happy Birthday quickly twice or two verses of Mary Had a Little Lamb to help you keep track of the time.)

If the question is: Will there be any H1N1/09 Pandemic Flu virus contained in the meat of the pig as a primary infection source of the virus (as opposed to on the meat of the pig), then that answer is also no. There is no scientific evidence of that occurring.

The incidence of this specific pandemic virus even being one that is causing illness in pigs is extremely low, especially in comparison to the numbers of infected people in the world (who are the real threat for spreading the virus). A small number of pigs have been determined to have been sick from the virus, but even in those, the vast majority were not pigs in herds raised for food production, they were among show pigs which are raised, fed, and kept entirely differently, and are in much closer daily contact with people who can contaminate them.

Read this from the CDC:

[Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.]

The key to the statement being true is " eating properly handled and cooked pork..."

Prior to that statement the CDC says:

[Can humans catch swine flu? Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs]

Note: This quote from CDC is about a different swine flu virus strain, not about the A-H1N1/09 pandemic flu virus which is infecting humans in pandemic proportions and a comparatively insignificant number of pigs to date.

Answer 3

No more than it can use a table top as a carrier. It is not what would be classified as a food borne illness and you can not get it from eating pork. However, if, like a table top or door knob, someone sneezed or coughed on the surface of the food and you ate it or touched it before the virus became inactivated by being without a living host, it is possible that you could catch the virus. But, that said, it is very unlikely, especially if you use the standard food handling safety precautions.

Answer 4

I believe that it is possible to get salmonella from any infected and poorly cooked meat.

The salmonella bacteria is killed by cooking, so make sure that the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Answer 5

no i have ate it before. unless you eat it raw and it has parasites in it then you should be fine

Answer 6

2.5 miles