What's with this toxoplasma gondii business?

October 2, 2007 2:25 PM

This official-looking document essentially says I can get toxoplasmosis from "ready-to-eat" ham. WHAT? How is that okay? Should I/you stop eating ham?

It is now coming to light that the common (more than 40% of the first world population is infected) parasite toxoplasma gondii is much worse that previously thought, and can cause things like decreased intelligence. So after I saw a news article about it, I decided to find out a bit more... and I found this document: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/data-sheets/toxoplasma-gondii.pdf
Which says (page 2) infectious cysts are present in 1 out of 67 samples of ready-to-eat ham. I assume the industry just has not caught on yet, and considers that acceptable? Cos it's not.

Makes me mad to see all these casual mentions that people's behaviour and reflexes are being adversely modified by a parasite that once you get you have for life, without the most basic things being done to prevent it (that's not the only one I've read.) Do people think it can't happen to them or what?

Am I the only who would prefer to not be forced to be any dumber, or have my behaviour otherwise modified by a parasite? Especially when it's only half of the population that gets it, I mean if it was a level playing field... well, that would still be bad, but the fact it's not goes to show something can be done to prevent infection.

I'm betting the people not infected are the ones rich enough to not need to prepare their own food, too. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

posted by Nish ton to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

It sounds as if you consider the risk unacceptable, so yes, you should stop eating ham.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:29 PM on October 2, 2007

CDC says you should cook your meat.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:31 PM on October 2, 2007

Response by poster: It says it's ready-to-eat, though. Who DOES consider the risk acceptable? If you do, I'm betting you don't know much about toxoplasma gondii. (no offense intended)
posted by Nish ton at 2:32 PM on October 2, 2007

So what do you want out of this AskMe? You seem to just be yelling at people to not eat ready-to-eat ham.
posted by agregoli at 2:33 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: No, I want to know if it's true, or if it's a mistake or something. I've sort of taken to ham recently, it's the only kind of meat I can buy and not bother to cook (because it's supposed to be cooked already).

But, yes I'm kind of mad at the casual attitude some people are displaying to this problem.
posted by Nish ton at 2:36 PM on October 2, 2007

I consider the risk acceptable. Ready to eat ham is delicious and my personality could probably use some changing. Bring on the parasites.
posted by ND¢ at 2:38 PM on October 2, 2007

If you're worried about toxo in ham, you should also worry about getting it from touching dirt, and drinking untreated water, and a bunch of other things. From your .pdf link:

Risk factors predictive for acute Toxoplasma infection in pregnant European women were; eating undercooked lamb, beef or game (30-63% of infections attributed to this source), contact with soil (6-17% of infections attributed to this source), and travel outside of Europe, the USA and Canada.

What was the question again?
posted by rtha at 2:42 PM on October 2, 2007

Response by poster: Right there! It's change for the worse, and reduction of intelligence. It will reduce your quality of life, there's no two ways about it. It also greatly increases your probability of getting killed in a car crash, maybe that's a better way to put things in perspective. It must cause other problems too if it reduces your reflexes, like don't even think about being a pilot or something.
posted by Nish ton at 2:42 PM on October 2, 2007

Response by poster: All they have to do is cook the Fricking ham the way they're supposed to.
posted by Nish ton at 2:43 PM on October 2, 2007

are we talking about the same toxoplasma gondii? i ask because this is what the cdc has to say:

What is toxoplasmosis?

A single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii causes a disease known as toxoplasmosis. While the parasite is found throughout the world, more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. Of those who are infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious; for them, a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems.

emphasis added.
posted by phil at 2:43 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: It's not from touching dirt or whatever (I'm glad I'm here to adress these replies), it's from consuming it, you'd have to ingest it. And eating ham isn't a "risk factor", it's a garaunteed way to get it if the cysts are present. I am aware of the "bunch of other things". Can we have a civilized conversation about something important without inapropriate hyperbole?
posted by Nish ton at 2:46 PM on October 2, 2007

Are you telling me that some stupid disease could keep you away from this?! Not me buddy.

As for a reduction in intelligence, all my friends think "Two and Half Men" is hilarious, but it is too stupid for me to enjoy. I chow down on enough of those ham cubes and I will be able to enjoy it and "According to Jim" and all kinds of other things WHILE EATING HAM CUBES! Win win.
posted by ND¢ at 2:46 PM on October 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: "throughout the world, more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. Of those who are infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have"

That's out of date. As I said, it's now known to be worse than that.
posted by Nish ton at 2:47 PM on October 2, 2007