Before discovering fire about 2.5 million years ago, many speculate that our ancestors took the meat and marrow of large animals raw. However, since the cultural adoption of cooking and roasting, people rarely eat uncooked meat. Regardless, raw meat dishes are still popular worldwide, but most people remain on the fence as to whether it is safe to eat raw meat or not.
So, can you eat Veal rare? No, you probably shouldn’t eat Veal raw. There is nothing inherently dangerous in rare Veal, but raw meat could contain illness-causing bacteria and parasites. As such, eating Veal rare can increase the chances of food poisoning since only temperatures above 145 degrees Fahrenheit can kill these pathogens.
If the Veal is ground, don’t eat it raw under any circumstances. This is because the grinding process can introduce these bacteria into the ground meat and cause devastating effects. You should cook ground Veal at a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it is safe.
Also, washing veal can’t kill bacteria; instead, it can spread the pathogens into your utensils and kitchen appliances, exposing you to further risk.
What are the Risks of Eating Veal Rare?
Raw Veal could harbor bacteria like Salmonella, Escherichia Coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause foodborne illnesses. After ingesting contaminated Veal, you will develop a case of food poisoning, which can lead to symptoms such as nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) advises groups susceptible to food-borne diseases to avoid raw or undercooked Veal. These individuals include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with compromised immunity.
Salmonella in raw Veal can cause Salmonellosis, an infection characterized by abdominal cramps, fever, and watery diarrhea. These bacteria can live in the digestive tract of calves without making them sick. However, it can spread from your intestines to your bones, joints, or bloodstream upon ingestion of contaminated meat.
Listeria monocytogenes is another type of bacteria that can infect cattle. Consumption of large amounts of raw Veal can cause a listeria infection after 24 hours of ingestion. It causes body aches, fever, nausea, and diarrhea. This infection can lead to stillbirth, miscarriages, or preterm delivery in pregnant women, putting both the mother and unborn child at risk.
E. coli is a bacterium also found in the guts of cattle. Some strains of these bacteria can cause food poisoning and stomach upsets if ingested in raw Veal. In severe cases, they can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening complication that can cause kidney failure.
Other bacteria like campylobacter and parasites like beef tapeworm can exist in raw Veal and are dangerous to your health.
What is the Nutrition of Veal?
Like typical beef, Veal contains proteins, varying amounts of fat, and a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. As such, Veal is highly nutritious and can provide numerous health benefits.
Veal is mostly comprised of proteins that contain all nine essential amino acids necessary for the growth and maintenance of the body. However, the exact protein composition will depend on the dietary source.
It also contains varying amounts of fats, also known as Veal tallow. It adds flavor to the meat and increases its calorie content significantly. Veal has equal amounts of saturated and unsaturated fats. The primary fatty acids found in Veal are oleic, stearic, and palmitic. Veal also contains natural trans fats, which unlike industrially-produced trans fats, are relatively healthy.
Veal is also a source of numerous vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, niacin, Vitamin B6, and phosphorus. It also contains bioactive compounds and antioxidants, which can boost health if eaten in adequate amounts. Some of the prominent substances include creatine, taurine, Glutathione, conjugated linoleic acid, and dietary cholesterol.
What are the Health Benefits of Veal?
One of the compounds the body forms as a result of including Veal is carnosine, which is essential for muscle function. Beta-alanine, a dietary amino acid occurring in Veal, is what the body uses to make carnosine. A high level of carnosine in humans is connected to reduced fatigue and enhanced performance during exercise.
People who suffer from iron deficiency and anemia should include Veal in their overall nutrition. This is because Veal is a rich source of iron, which improves the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. While iron from Veal is readily absorbed by the body, it also improves the intake of plant-derived iron, whose absorption is inhibited. This makes Veal an ideal option for combating iron deficiency and anemia.
Veal is an excellent source of high-quality protein as well as other vitamins and minerals which can form a part of your healthy diet. Some of the benefits of taking Veal include maintenance of muscle mass, better exercise performance, prevention of anemia, and reduced fatigue.
Final Thoughts
- While numerous dishes involve taking raw meat, you shouldn’t carelessly eat rare Veal. It could be easily contaminated with pathogens, which can cause food poisoning symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever.
- The most effective way to remove disease-causing organisms is with high temperatures above 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Veal could contain illness-causing bacteria like Salmonella, E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, campylobacter, and parasites like tapeworm.
- Veal is a good source of nutrients if included in your diet. It contains high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds that are helpful to the human body.
- There are numerous benefits of including Veal in your diet since it has nutrients that help the body in various ways. Veal intake will help you maintain your muscle mass, improve your exercise performance, reduce fatigue, and prevent iron deficiency and anemia.