Raw Meat TikTok Trend Poses Serious Health Risks!
TikTok, an incredibly popular social media app that consumes many young adolescents’ and even some adults’ time and dedication, has now also grabbed the attention of food-safety experts. Trends among the younger population of America started by TikTok are not uncommon, and most are quite harmless, if not just annoying to those who have to witness them being performed. But unfortunately, that isn’t the case in this particular situation.
Recently, eating raw meat has become a new, and dangerous, trend that has dominated TikTok. Precipitated by famous TikTokers such as Liver King and Pauly Long, this trend has become a health concern for many. The TikTok posts consist of people eating a variety of raw meats such as liver, salmon, uncooked steak, and even raw brain and testicles. According to the consumers, eating these meats raw gives the person more energy and makes them stronger. Despite the continued warnings against this trend, eating raw meat remains popular content on TikTok.
There may be a history behind this TikTok trend. True, many would-be connoisseurs of raw meats are getting the idea from this favored social media platform, but, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services there is a history of others doing the same. For some “Wisconsinites” it is tradition to consume raw ground beef through “tiger meat, steak tartare, or cannibal sandwiches.” The cannibal sandwich is an especially popular meal in the Midwest, considered an important dish served at wedding receptions and parties. Others find tartare (raw beef) and sashimi (raw fish) to be delectable. And of course, there are oysters.
But in every situation, eating these raw meat can be dangerous – especially to those with a compromised immune system.
The problem is, most people, including the infamous “raw meat TikTok stars,” may not realize that these products pose the risk of carrying foodborne illnesses such as Salmonella and E.coli, and literally thousands of people become severely ill upon becoming infected with these bacteria each and every year in the United States. According to the CDC, approximately 48 million people become ill, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses each year in this nation alone!
If you are going to eat raw meat, be on the look out for the symptoms of food poisoning illness such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Seek medica treatment soon, as many are hospitalized after they become severely dehydrated, and it can take months before the person’s digestive system returns to normal.
It is extremely vital for people to become educated on this topic, as food poisoning is a worldwide issue, and millions are impacted every year. TikTok stars long and prosper, but be careful what you advocate!
