Pork

Warmup!

Name some famous pigs!◦List here:

Domestication

Wild boars were hunted for meat in the Eurasian continent for millenia (Europe and Asia)

Boars were beginning to be domesticated around 13,000 BCE in Asia

Used for food but also hides for shields, bones for weapons & tools, and bristles (hair) for brushes

Travelling the World

Pigs were brought to the American continents by Hernando de Soto and other conquistadors

Escaped pigs became feral and disrupted the natural ecosystems of both continents

Religious Consumption

Pig flesh was forbidden to be eaten in ancient Syria

Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut), mandated by the Torah, prohibit the consumption of “unclean animals” such as pigs, shellfish, and insects

Islamic dietary laws (Halal), mandated by the Quran, also prevent them from eating pork

In Christian sects, pork consumption is forbidden by:◦ Seventh Day

Adventists◦ Ethiopian Orthodox

Church◦ Rastafarians◦ Messianic Jews◦ United Church of God

Trichinosis

This prevention may have come from a disease called trichinosis, which is a parasite that lives in undercooked pork

It is a type of roundworm

Edible Parts of Pork

Bacon!

Cooking Safety

Pork can be safely eaten when the internal temperature reaches 145° F

This applies to loin, chops, and roastGround pork must be cooked to 160° F

Activity

Move the tables into small groups (6-8 per group)

Pair up and read information about your position (PETA, pork industry, farmers)

Try to come to a compromise about lowering your pork prices, animal rights, and a general benefit to everyone

Discuss findings with the class as a whole

Articles

http://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-pigs/

http://www.ncifap.org/_images/212-6_PCIFAP_Ecnmics_v5_tc.pdf

http://www.mipork.org/filelibrary/states/mi/magazines/march_issue13.pdf