# bacon soda **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232 "2003-07-31T22:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/21 "2003-08-01T04:05:01Z")
This “phenomenon” might be [trichinosis](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htm), a parasitic disease that used to be more common and is associated with undercooked pork: > [@](#): > > _from the CDC site:_ > > Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis (TRICK-a-NO-sis), is caused by eating raw or undercooked pork and wild game products infected with the larvae of a species of worm called Trichinella. Infection occurs worldwide, but is most common in areas where raw or undercooked pork, such as ham or sausage, is eaten. > > The number of cases has decreased because of legislation prohibiting the feeding of raw meat garbage to hogs, commercial and home freezing of pork, and the public awareness of the danger of eating raw or undercooked pork products. Cases are less commonly associated with pork products and more often associated with eating raw or undercooked wild game meats. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/22 "2003-08-01T04:30:10Z")
_Trichinella spiralis_ is far less common than it used to be in US pork, at least. Caution is still a good idea, but most pork in the US does not need to be cooked until it is leather, anymore. As for bacon–bacon has been salted, nitrated, and often smoked. Kills the eggs pretty darn good. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/23 "2003-08-01T05:00:28Z")
I call Bullshit on the people mentioned in the OP I do a lot of Barbeque and I know of several recipies that call for either Coke, Dr. Pepper, or Root Beer as part of a pork marinade. Needless to say none of these recipies mention worms comming out of the meat. Furthermore the allegation that a worm could survive the smoking, and processing of bacon is pretty funny. Those would have to Godzilla worms to do that. As far as the Trichinella worm goes, it has almost been removed from the US pork supply. From [Whole Heath MD.com](http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/foods_view/1,1523,91,00.html) > [@](#): > > Because of many warnings over the years about pork and trichinosis, many cooks think it is necessary to cook pork to the well-done stage to eliminate this risk. Today, however, trichinosis has been virtually eliminated; most hogs are not fed food scraps (which can carry the parasite), and those that are, by federal law, are fed scraps that have been cooked to destroy parasites. Moreover, most hogs are raised on sanitary lots. These changes have led to a decreased infection rate among hogs; according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, as little as 0.1% of the pork supply nowadays may be infected with Trichinella spiralis, the parasite that causes trichinosis. > > Researchers have also discovered that this parasite is destroyed at 137°F, and so the recommended internal temperature of cooked pork has been lowered from 170°F to 160°F (which allows for a margin of safety). At that stage of doneness, the meat is still juicy and slight traces of pink may remain. When cooking a roast, you can remove it from the oven at 155°F and let it stand for 15 minutes before carving; during that time, the temperature will rise to 160°F. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/24 "2003-08-01T17:20:49Z")
No worms - experiment concluded. I meant to nuke it last night just to see what a tonic marinade would do for bacon, but forgot and left it out all night. ---
**Author:** ![juan2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@juan2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juan2003)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/25 "2003-08-01T18:24:44Z")
What about a pork chop or loin? Has anyone tried a clear beverage? It would allow one to see the ‘worms’ more easily. What about those wacky anti-pork people? Did they purposely leave some pork out to be infested with maggots? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/26 "2003-08-01T18:59:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by juan2003 \* > What about a pork chop or loin? Has anyone tried a clear beverage? It would allow one to see the ‘worms’ more easily. Maybe **Ringo** has an inexhaustible supply of pork products to waste performing experiments for you? Or perhaps you could do them yourself? ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/27 "2003-08-01T19:05:20Z")
Ringo: Maybe they crawled out of the bacon overnight and are now hidding in the carpet. Aha! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/28 "2003-08-01T21:54:44Z")
Or perhaps like the link I posted mentioned, the reason no worms come out of the meat is because there aren’t any in there to start with. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/29 "2003-08-01T23:06:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rick \* > \*\*Or perhaps like the link I posted mentioned, the reason no worms come out of the meat is because there aren’t any in there to start with. \*\* No, they must be _invisible_ worms, or maybe they don’t like diet soda and they are still hiding in there, or maybe they tunneled under the wall. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/30 "2003-08-01T23:36:01Z")
I hear if you give Kool-Aid to lemmings they will commit suicide. ---
**Author:** ![cookeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@cookeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookeze)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/31 "2003-08-02T01:11:22Z")
I don’t think I want to think too hard about that ad for “the other white meat” right now. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/32 "2003-08-02T01:12:28Z")
Maggots: the other, _other_ white meat. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232/33 "2003-08-02T02:32:39Z")
they are pure protein… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-soda/192232.md?page=1)