Why is rotten meat bad

As far back as ,, years ago, remains of burnt bones and hearth fires have been discovered, alluding to the fact that early humans would cook up the remains of a hunt before dinner. Many years later, this practice has continued because it wipes out any nasty bacteria, makes the meat more easily digestible, and generally just tastes better — this could just be long-term conditioning, but some scientists believe microbes make "off" food smell terrible for their own selfish gain. However, some people believe that cooking is overrated, instead preferring to snack on some hearty raw — sometimes rotten — meat.

The reason this has been called "high meat" is due to a reported feeling of euphoria that comes along with eating the decomposed meat — it's hard to tell whether that is from an unknown mechanism, or just dehydration and delirium after all the stomach upsets. Some even claim to prefer the taste, which is often described as cheesy and more acidic than your average steak, while others just report feeling good as a result of the diet.

But is it dangerous? Well, it purely depends on how the meat is left. Eating uncooked meat is not a new, nor necessarily harmful trend — steak tartare involves raw beef and has been enjoyed for centuries, while meat is regularly left to dry out into various treats, such as jerky and cured meats. However, heat isn't a guaranteed way to prevent food poisoning. This is because certain bacteria also release toxins, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Even when you kill these bacteria by cooking them, their toxins will remain in the food and cause you to become sick. According to the U. Food and Drug Administration , you should always keep meat and meat products in your refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps prevent spoilage. However, the duration of time meat can be kept at this temperature depends on the product.

The FDA states that:. Meat that is left at 40 degrees F for longer than this amount of time will slowly start decomposing. If you don't plan on eating your meat within the FDA-recommended time periods, you can keep your meat from going bad by freezing it at 0 degrees F. The USDA says that freezing food at this temperature inactivates bacteria and other microbes.

Freezing food can even help destroy certain parasites. However, your meat's quality will decline if it's kept in the freezer for too long. The FDA recommends the following limits:. Whether it's fresh or frozen, meat needs to be cooked thoroughly to kill all bacteria that's present in it.

The U. Department of Health and Human Services says you should cook most meats to an internal temperature of degrees F. Poultry needs to be cooked to a slightly higher internal temperature of degrees F. Nutrition Main Dishes Meat Recipes. Claudia is a registered dietitian with a PhD in physical activity, nutrition and wellness. This rotten meat is rife with countless bacteria such as salmonella and e. Crucially, this differs considerably to the previously-mentioned process of fermentation, whereby a food item is carefully allowed to decompose in controlled environments and beneficial microorganisms are made to cultivate.

As opposed to the beneficial microorganisms found in fermented foods, the dangerous bacteria found in rotten food cannot be handled by human stomachs. Many individuals who have consumed rotten food products — including "high meat" — have complained of plenty of horrid side effects , such as extreme stomach pains, explosive diarrhea, high fevers, and vomiting.

These symptoms, however, can get even worse if not treated, and severe cases of food poisoning can even lead to death. Clearly, the trend of consuming rotten meat to achieve a drug-like high is considerably dangerous and ill-advised, and we're sure that you don't need any warnings to be deterred from even attempting such a stunt. Even if some of the proponents of the "high meat" trend claim to have no ill effects, you just know that it's not a risk you should even consider taking.

But all the same, it's probably a good reminder that while certain meats can be eaten raw or even fermented, you'd do well to note where your meat products come from, and that they're fresh and uncontaminated when you decide to consume them. Filipino man collects over 20, fast-food toys in nearly 50 years.