Dec 14, 2020 / 10:25 PM EST
(CNN) Wisconsin residents are being urged by health officials to pass on eating a traditional holiday dish this year to avoid getting sick.
A “cannibal sandwich,” considered a holiday favorite in the state, consists of raw ground beef on bread with sliced onions, salt and pepper.
But, “eating raw meat is NEVER recommended because of the bacteria it can contain,” the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a tweet on Saturday.
DHS, which said it issues this reminder annually, elaborated on its warning in another social media post.
“Time for our annual reminder that there’s one #holiday tradition you need to pass on: raw meat sandwiches, sometimes called Tiger Meat or Cannibal Sandwiches,” the state health department wrote on Facebook.
The raw meat sandwich is a traditional Wisconsin dish for the holidays
Published December 14, 2020 •
Updated on December 15, 2020 at 1:40 pm
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services warned residents against consuming a traditional raw meat sandwich during the holidays.
The cannibal sandwich, which traditionally consists of raw ground beef, chopped onion, salt and pepper on a slice of rye bread, is popular among residents throughout the state.
Health officials reminded in a tweet that raw or undercooked meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli, Campylobacter and Listeria.
For many #Wisconsin families, raw meat sandwiches are a #holiday tradition, but eating raw meat is NEVER recommended because of the bacteria it can contain. Ground beef should always be cooked to 160 degrees! Get more holiday food safety tips: https://t.co/h3fi4TfPye#foodsafetypic.twitter.com/jDqmkt6uOU WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) December 12, 2020
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Begins In Wisconsin, Health Care Workers First wuwm.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wuwm.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The new strain of the coronavirus causes the disease COVID-19. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. A full list of symptoms is available on the Centers for Disease Control website.
In severe cases, pneumonia can develop. Those most at risk include the elderly, people with heart or lung disease as well as anyone at greater risk of infection.
For most, the virus is mild, presenting similarly to a common cold or the flu.
Anyone who thinks they may have the disease should call ahead to a hospital or clinic before going in for a diagnosis. Doing so gives the staff time to take the proper precautions so the virus does not spread.
Wisconsin Officials Once Again Warn Residents to Not Eat Raw Meat
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If I didn t grow up over in Wisconsin, I d be totally intrigued and probably grossed out by the state s annual warning about eating raw meat.
The interwebs are abuzz right now with the latest warning from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services about how residents of America s Dairyland shouldn t eat raw meat. Wait, what s that? Raw meat? Why would anyone eat raw meat?!?
Well, it turns out it s all because of a holiday tradition in some parts of Wisconsin. Raw meat is a part of something called a cannibal sandwich ? It s an old-school Wisconsin holiday treat that s apparently making a comeback these days where it originated, in the southeast part of the state near Milwaukee. (Check the video below to see what one looks like!)