What To Do If You Accidentally Ate Raw or Undercooked Pork

Eating raw or undercooked pork can expose you to harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. While proper cooking kills dangerous pathogens, consuming pork before it’s cooked through poses health risks you can’t ignore.

If you just realized you accidentally ate raw or undercooked pork, it’s understandable to feel concerned. However, try not to panic. There are steps you can take to mitigate your risk of illness. This article covers what to do if you ate raw pork including when to see a doctor.

Be Alert for Symptoms

The most important thing is to monitor yourself closely for any symptoms of food poisoning over the next week. Symptoms from common pork-related pathogens like salmonella, E. coli, trichinosis or tapeworm can take 1-2 days to appear. But in some cases up to 2 weeks.

Potential symptoms include

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Fever and chills
• Fatigue and muscle aches
• Headache
• Skin rash
• Eye swelling or redness

Severe trichinosis cases may also involve facial swelling, high fever muscle and joint pain, heart issues or neurological problems like meningitis.

If you experience any concerning symptoms, contact your doctor right away. Quick treatment can help prevent complications.

Disinfect Surfaces and Utensils

Raw pork can harbor salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria that cause food poisoning. These pathogens can spread easily to surfaces, utensils and hands.

After accidentally eating raw pork, be diligent about thoroughly washing any plates, cutting boards, knives, counters etc. that touched the raw meat. Use hot soapy water then disinfect with a sanitizing spray or solution.

Also remember to wash your hands carefully with soap after touching raw pork. This helps stop the spread of bacteria.

Hold Off on Food Prep

Avoid preparing food for others until at least 48 hours after exposure to raw pork. There is a risk you could pass pathogens through cross-contamination.

Wait until you’re confident you haven’t developed symptoms before cooking again for your family or friends. This lowers the chances of accidentally infecting others.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of fluids, especially if diarrhea develops. Losing too much fluid through vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Sipping water, broths, or electrolyte beverages helps replenish fluids and minerals.

If you can’t keep liquids down due to severe vomiting, seek medical care to avoid dangerous dehydration.

Consider Probiotics

Some research indicates probiotic supplements may help prevent and reduce diarrhea or other symptoms from foodborne illnesses. Probiotics introduce good bacteria to your gut to help combat bad bacteria.

Discuss with your doctor whether adding a probiotic supplement could be beneficial if you develop symptoms after eating raw pork.

Monitor Health Closely

Pay close attention to your health over the next 1-2 weeks, watching for any concerning symptoms. While many foodborne illnesses resolve on their own, some worsen over several days or lead to complications.

See a doctor if you experience persistent vomiting, bloody stools, high fever, muscle pains or weakness, confusion or disorientation. These can signal a severe infection that requires medical treatment.

See Your Doctor

Contact your physician right away if symptoms like abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting develop within 1-2 days of eating raw or undercooked pork.

Your doctor can determine if your symptoms are likely food poisoning and order tests to pinpoint the exact infection, such as:

• Blood or stool tests to identify Salmonella, E. coli etc.
• Stool exam for worm larvae
• Blood test checking for Trichinella antibodies

Based on your test results, your doctor will recommend appropriate treatment, which may include fluids, electrolytes, antidiarrheal medication, pain relievers, antibiotics, antiparasitic medication, or other therapies.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment from a doctor can help resolve symptoms faster and prevent the infection from spreading or becoming serious.

How to Avoid Future Exposure

Going forward, you can take steps to avoid consuming undercooked pork:

• Use a food thermometer to check pork reaches 145°F.

• If reheating pork, reheat to 165°F.

• Don’t eat ground pork products below 160°F.

• Allow meats to rest 3 minutes before eating.

• Purchase pork from reputable sellers.

• Store/handle pork carefully to avoid cross-contamination.

Following safe pork handling and cooking practices reduces your risks from foodborne pathogens. But if you accidentally eat raw pork again, remember to watch closely for symptoms and see a doctor at the first sign of illness.

The Bottom Line

While eating raw or undercooked pork puts you at risk for foodborne infection, staying alert and monitoring yourself for symptoms can help mitigate your chances of developing a serious illness. Contact your doctor right away if you have any sign of stomach issues or fever after consuming raw or undercooked pork. Rapid treatment is key to faster recovery and preventing dangerous complications.