Omophagia is a practice that consists of consuming raw meat. However, this could be dangerous to health. For this reason, in this article we will analyze the consequences and safety of starting a habit like this.
This dietary behavior is put into practice in Italian and Japanese gastronomy, especially, and little by little it is spreading to other countries and cultures. Perhaps the most representative dish of this trend is carpaccio , which is nothing more than raw meat cut very thin and seasoned. However, nowadays there are already many establishments that offer meat tartare among their options.
The risks of omphagia
Consuming raw meat is not without risks. Meat is a very nutritious food, with a high protein and micronutrient content. However, it can contain bacteria and toxins.
Most of the microorganisms that appear in meat products are sensitive to high temperatures. Cooking extinguishes them from the food. According to research published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology , cooking is an effective method of inactivating bacteria and spores.
For this reason, subjecting a food to high temperatures is usually enough to eliminate the microbiological risk. However, if we choose to consume the raw product, we are assuming the probability of being contaminated if the handling or conservation is not carried out correctly.
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