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There are many religions that specifically forbid the consumption of pork, a meat that is considered unclean. Is there a reason for this? Is there more to this religious teaching that we should all be aware of?
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Science now suggests there are some very practical reasons why people were wise to avoid pork. Pigs are scavengers by nature, which means that they will eat almost anything, including rotten food, faeces, urine, carcasses, and even cancerous growths. Unfortunately, their digestive systems are incapable of effectively removing these accumulated toxins from their bodies, because a pig will digest its food entirely in about four hours. This is simply not long enough to remove the excess toxins that were ingested, which means these toxins are then stored directly in the pig’s fat cells and organs.
“Sweating like a pig” yet? Ironically enough, pigs do not have sweat glands, which means they can’t remove excess toxins by sweating (like we do). These two factors make pork meat inherently more toxic to consume, and in our current environment, we really don’t need to expose our bodies to even more toxins if we don’t have to.
According to an investigation by Consumer Reports, 69% of all raw pork samples tested (of about 200 samples) were contaminated with a dangerous bacteria known as Yersinia enteroclitica. This bacteria can cause fever, gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.
Ground pork was more likely to be contaminated than pork chops, and also tested positive for other contaminants, including a controversial drug called ractopamine, which is banned in China and Europe. Many of the bacteria found in the pork were actually resistant to multiple antibiotics, which means, if you were to get sick, treatment would be difficult.
According to the report: “We found salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, or listeria monocytogenes, more common causes of foodborne illness, in 3 to 7 percent of samples. And 11 percent harbored enterococcus, which can indicate fecal contamination and can cause problems such as urinary-tract infections.”
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Pigs are host to a number of parasites, viruses, and other organisms, many of which can be directly transmitted to humans. Some include:
- Taenia solium — an intestinal parasite that can cause tissue infection and loss of appetite.
- Menangle virus — a virus that can cause fever, chills, rashes, headaches, and sweating.
- Trichinella — a parasitic roundworm that can cause edema, myalgia, fever, and malaise.
- Hepatitis E – A viral inflammation that can cause fatigue, nausea, and jaundice. More severe cases can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The study does indicate that if you cook pork properly, you can reduce the risk of the these parasites affecting you, but there is no guaranteed temperature for safety when it comes to pork.
If you still choose to consume pork, follow the below guidelines to increase safety.
As issued by Consumer Reports:
- When cooking pork, use a meat thermometer to ensure that it reaches the proper internal temperature, which kills potentially harmful bacteria: at least 145° F for whole pork and 160° F for ground pork.
- Keep raw pork and its juices separate from other foods, especially those eaten raw, such as salad.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
- Choose pork and other meat products that were raised without drugs. One way to do that is to buy certified organic pork, from pigs raised without antibiotics or ractopamine.
- Look for a clear statement regarding antibiotic use. “No antibiotics used” claims with a USDA Process Verified shield are more reliable than those without verification. Labels such as “Animal Welfare Approved” and “Certified Humane” indicate the prudent use of antibiotics to treat illness.
- Watch out for misleading labels. “Natural” has nothing to do with antibiotic use or how an animal was raised. We found unapproved claims, including “no antibiotic residues,” on packages of Sprouts pork sold in California and Arizona, and “no antibiotic growth promotants” on Farmland brand pork sold in several states. We reported those to the USDA in June 2012, and the agency told us it’s working with those companies to take “appropriate actions.” When we checked in early November, Sprouts had removed the claim from its packages.
What About Organic, Pasture-Raised Pork?
While this pork is obviously going to be much better for you to consume, it can be difficult to find, and still poses certain health concerns. Pasture-raised pork is highly susceptible to Trichinella spiralis infection, also known as the “pork worm.” Trichinella is one of the most widespread parasites in the whole world, and though it can be killed in the cooking process, one has to follow guidelines closely to make sure the meat is cooked through.
It is said that pork can be a “healthy” meat, but this entirely depends on how it was raised. Most, if not all, of the pork we consume is factory farmed. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola:
So for most all industrially raised pork, I believe there is enough scientific evidence to justify the reservations or outright prohibitions in many cultures against consuming it. Nearly all pigs raised in the U.S. come from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFO’s. These inhumane environments are typically toxic breeding grounds for pathogens.These animals spend their short, miserable lives on concrete and steel grates. Antibiotics are given liberally with their feed, making their massive waste even more toxic.This is why you can smell a CAFO swine operation miles before you see it. At an operation like Joel Salatin’s, you couldn’t smell any sign of pigs. These pigs were raised humanely and organically, where both animal and land are managed symbiotically.Unfortunately, raising animals in CAFO’s is the standard for Americans. For many of us, CAFO pork is the only option available.This is why my nutrition plan recommends consciously avoiding pork whenever possible unless you can assure yourself that the hogs were raised like the video above. Granted, the occasional consumption of pork might be fine, but it’s a risk, and the more you consume it the more likely it is that you will eventually acquire some type of infection.
If the Pressing Health Concerns Aren’t Enough…
It’s a sad fact that 97% of all pigs in the United States today are raised in factory farms. This means that these pigs will never get to run on grass, breathe fresh air, or play in the sun. They are cramped and crowded into huge warehouses and fed a diet largely consisting of drugs and antibiotics to keep them alive and to encourage rapid growth.
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