Meat Can’t Be Pink

Hunting

That rare breed of hunters who stalk bears and cougars should cook their meat well-done.

The Idaho Health District in Lewiston reported 15 cases of human trichinosis last spring after people ate cougar jerky. Human trichinosis occurs by eating undercooked meat contaminated with infective larvae.

The parasite that causes trichinosis is widely spread in nature among meat-eating animals such as bears and cougars, said Dr. Jesse Greenblatt, state epidemiologist.

It is rare in plant eaters such as deer or elk.

Only about 100 human cases are reported each year in the United States, about three quarters due to inadequately processed pork, with most of the rest due to eating poorly cooked bear or walrus meat, he said.

In the Lewiston incident, the cougar jerky was prepared with a common salt brine then cooked in a smoker that was never more than warm to the touch.

After the hunter developed symptoms, including tiredness, weakness, rash, muscle tremors and swelling, he was diagnosed with an advanced case of the infectious disease. Others later were treated.

“The leftover jerky showed a large concentration of a freeze-resistant strain which has not previously been reported from Idaho game,” Greenblatt said. “This means that even freezing the jerky would not kill the larvae.”

The best way to kill trichinella larvae is by cooking meat until there is no trace of pink fluid or flesh, Greenblatt said.

, DataTimes