Tiger meat

Tiger meat is a raw beef dish. It consists of raw ground beef with onion and salt and pepper often served with rye bread.^[1] Some eat it like a dip with crackers.^[2]

Tiger meat was first introduced in America by German immigrants.^[3] It is similar to a German food called mett with minced raw pork or beef.^[3] States with German and Russian influences like Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas often feature this dish.^[2] It is also served in Wisconsin at holiday parties and other festive events.^[1] People often eat tiger meat to preserve German traditions.^[4] It is also known as "cannibal sandwich",^[5] "wildcat",^[2] "parisa",^[2] and "raw beef and onions".^[1] The origin of the name is not known.^[2] In southern Brazil, this kind of meat is called 'carne de onça', meaning jaguar meat.

Public health concern

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has urged against consuming tiger meat for risk of contracting E. coli and salmonella.^[6] The United States Department of Agriculture suggests cooking the ground beef used in tiger meat to 160°F to eliminate the possibility of foodborne illness.^[7]

References

1. "cannibal sandwich". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2017-08-08. from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
2. Huber, Makenzie (2019-08-22). "What is tiger meat? Why raw beef became a South Dakota food favorite". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
3. Ryan, Rachel. "Why did the raw meat cannibal sandwich become so popular in Wisconsin? And why has it stayed that way?". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
4. Patel, Vimal (2020-12-18). "A Raw Meat Sandwich Warning Draws Eyes on Wisconsin (and More Warnings)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
5. McCoy, Mary Kate (2019-03-29). "Cannibal Sandwiches: A Polarizing And Misunderstood Wisconsin Tradition". WPR. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
6. Wong, Wilson (2020-12-16). "Don't eat 'cannibal sandwich,' 'tiger meat' dishes of raw beef, Wisconsin officials warn". NBC News. from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
7. Lichtman, Sarah (2018-12-17). "Tips for Eating Cannibal Sandwiches this Holiday Season". U.S. Department of Agriculture. from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-03-02.