Salmonella contamination from head cheese warns Missouri health dept.

Posted: December 16th, 2009 - 9:34pm by Doug Powell

Head cheese is a product made from meat pieces of the head of a calf or pig and combined with spices. It is usually eaten cold or at room temperature. Thorough cooking kills salmonella bacteria, but since head cheese isn't cooked, the bacteria stays in the product.

That’s gross.

Missouri’s Scott County Health Department is asking people who may have purchased head cheese that originated in New Hamburg to discard it for fear it may be contaminated with salmonella.

According to a health department news release, a public health investigation has determined that there may be a risk of salmonella contamination associated with the consumption of head cheese produced and distributed at a private residence in mid-November in New Hamburg.

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Categories: Salmonella
Tags: Cheese, Missouri, Radiohead

Comments

LW says:

Something sounds really off about this "head cheese." I'm from the south and we call it Souse and the meat is cooked until it falls off the bone, which is a long process, then it's mixed with spices and a sometimes an added gelatin and then stored in the fridge to set. I don't see how one could not cook this, but if so, I'll pass.

Posted on December 17th, 2009 - 8:36am

Bryan Severns says:

Head cheese is cooked, for a very long time. The salmonella would come from post cooking contamination, from workers or packaging equipment.

Posted on December 17th, 2009 - 11:17am

Sheila says:

I thought it was boiled so they could get all the yummy gelatin out which helps it hold it's form. I'm sure I saw that on How it's Made or some similar tv program. It's delicious.

Posted on December 17th, 2009 - 2:01pm

czxqa says:

Souse is different from head cheese in that vinegar (usually apple cider vinegar) is also an ingredient. Either recipe you want to use, the stuff is simmered for about four hours, Salmonella does not survive the process. It is cooked for a long time just like pulled pork. Dr. Doug, you should look into the process before blogging about it...

Posted on March 1st, 2010 - 12:13am

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