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Everything you need to know about meat... and more! Follow each link for more information.
How do I know when my steak is done? What temperature should lamb be cooked at? Here is a simple chart to help you know when your meat products are safe to eat.
Meat Product |
Temperature (degrees Farenheit) |
Ground Beef, Lamb, Pork Sausage |
160 |
Fresh Beef, Lamb Medium Rare Medium Well Done |
145 160 170 |
Fresh Pork Medium Well Done |
160 170 |
Ham Raw Cured |
160 140 |
Source: Partnership for Food Safety Education
Ever wonder how long your meat products will last in the refrigerator or freezer? Look no further!
Meat Product |
Refrigerated |
Frozen |
Fresh Beef, Lamb &Pork Steaks Chops Roasts Variety Meats |
3-5 days 3-5 days 3-5 days 1-2 days |
6-12 months 4-6 months 4-12 months 3-4 months |
| Hamburger & Ground Lamb | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
Fully Cooked Ham Whole Half |
7 days 3-5 days |
1-2 months 1-2 months |
Bacon & Sausage Bacon Pork Sausage Summer Sausage, unopened |
7 days 1-2 days 3 months |
1 month 1-2 months 1-2 months |
| Frankfurters, unopened | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
Source: Partnership for Food Safety Education
What is BSE? Can it be passed to humans through meat products?
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE (also known as mad cow disease), is a non-contagious disease found in cattle. The cause of this disease is a protein, known as a prion, that does not have a nucleus and is abnormally shaped. Because the shaped is altered it's function is altered as well, and can damage surrounding cells. Prions are found in brain, spinal cord and small intestine tissues but have not been found to carry infection in muscle tissues. The only way humans might be affected by BSE is if they consume animal tissues that carry the prion. The Food Safety Inspection Service has taken measures to prevent infected tissues from entering the human food supply.
Follow these links to learn more about BSE:
Understanding BSE and Related Diseases
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
US Food and Drug Administration
Is meat from cloned animals safe for human consumption?
According to the USDA, meat and milk products from cloned cattle, pigs and goats as well as products from their non-cloned offspring are safe to eat. Cattle and other livestock are generally cloned for breeding purposes, not for meat. Generally, animals are cloned in order to preserve their superior genetics. Cloned animals are not genetically modified organisms as there are no foreign genes in these animals, they all contain genes of their own species. They are genetic copies of adult animals. Think of clones like identical twins, just born at different times. Cloned animals are not grown in a test tube, but rather developed and are born like any other convetionally bred animal.
Follow these links to learn more about Cloning:
US Food and Drug Administration
Animal Cloning and Food Safety
Q&A about Food from Cloned Animals
To learn more about various aspects of food safety, check out this website through the University of Wisconsin Extension:
http://www.wifirst.wisc.edu/