Worried about parasites and raw meat..

[Jeanne D'Arc]

So i want to have more raw liver and heart but I am so paranoid
about getting some sort of parasite, esp cuz im already infected
with other crap.

We froze our organ meat for a few weeks like it says but I am
still so paranoid that doesnt kill any parasites that might be there
or eggs.

:S

[Taedareth]

Me too. I wonder how much of a risk it is.

[Jeanne D'Arc]

[homemademomma]

maybe i am paranoid but i would only eat raw meat if i personally knew the farmer. even then. . .. yuck. i probably wouldn't eat it!

[jamie79]

I have lyme and am trying to get myself to eat raw meat, because of all of the healing stories I have read about when people did this. I won't do this with just any source, though. I know my farmer and that is probably another reason I don't worry. My fear is texture, not bacteria or parasites.

[Red's DD]

I eat raw beef, raw fish, cured meats, raw oysters...hasn't hurt me yet.

One of my favorites is steak tartar, which is just raw steak. I also know that when it comes to steak the bacteria is located on the outside of the steak. That is why it is safe to eat your steak rare. If the outside is seared it kills the bacteria, so I wonder would you still get the benifits of raw meat.

I also know that all sushi served in the US by law must be frozen because according to the FDA this will kill any parasites.

Why eat liver raw? For health reasons?

[Meg_s]

Texture issues.... I loved raw ground beef warmed in the oven with some spaghetti sauce, cottage cheese and olive oil. You don't notice the texture, it just tastes like lasagna. Or sliced really really thin and eaten like sushi.

<shrug> I don't know how to reassure for parasites.. I worry about pork so cook it through, but have never had a problem in 4 years of eating raw beef and chicken. Once I had diahhrea after eating a lb of raw bison in a sitting, but it was vacuum packed and frozen - so probably not the best choice of raw meat

[Panserbjorne]

Oh, meg s, your lasagna sounds LOVELY! I wish I could do dairy....

Interesting to note that all hte people who report any "issues" after eating meat that may not have been the best choice only have some diarrhea. I have never had any issues, but have talked with people who have eaten raw for over a decade and they same the same thing...even after intentionally eating rotten or "high" meat.

I think it helped *me* to know that parasites are actually helpers and not something to be feared. I have a pretty scientific mind though, so I can detach pretty easily and ride on concepts alone. Others may have different, um, comfort levels with that idea!

[prettypixels]

I'm not sure I could take advice from anyone who intentionally ate rotten raw meat. Yikes.

[Panserbjorne]

There are large numbers of people who do including several tribes of indigenous people from all over the world. I'm okay with wisdom and practices that go back thousands of years. When you understand the science behind it it makes sense.

Not wanting to do it is another thing entirely.

[guestmama9904]

why must you eat the liver raw? i am sure it contains many beneficial nutritional properties when cooked. traditional foods diets dont mean you must eat raw meat. my grandmother was a conesuier of all organ meats and tounge, she came from eastern europe, but she never ate these meats raw.

[Calidris]

Some parasite, especially those that form cysts, could probably survive the freezing process. Parasites that lodge in organs are often the more dangerous ones.
It would probably help to look up all the parasites typical for the animal you are considering, and the particular organ, then checking what infected meat looks like. The people who inspect meat must have websites (probably forums too ). I'm sure you could figure it out too.