Pork: Precautionary Note

Pork must always be well cooked since pigs may suffer infestation by parasites, notably Trichinella spiralis, a species of worm which develops cysts in the flesh of infected animals. If pork is inadequately cooked, the cysts remain viable and pass into humans. A serious illness, trichinosis, may then result. Properly cured raw pork products, such as prosciutto de Parma, are safe because the organism is killed by the curing process.

See also: andouille; bacon; blood sausages; brawn; caul; charcuterie; chitterlings; collop; coppa; crackling, culatello; ears; feet; ham; head; lachsschinken; lard; larding; lungs; offal; pâté; pig; pork pie; rillettes; salt pork; sausages; smoking foods; sucking pigs; wild boar.