Mett.

It is raw pork spread on an open-faced bread roll – called a brötchen – with raw onions sprinkled on top.

It looks like uncooked ground beef.

In Germany, if you walk into a butcher, or some bakeries, you’ll find this. It’s fairly common. I have friends who eat it for breakfast.

As an American, this is appalling. Pork is the one thing you do not eat raw. Ever. It isn’t even debatable.

If you eat raw pork, you’ll get sick. Maybe even die. That’s how severe this is. Even pork that is undercooked is bad. You can get sick from that too.

But here are the German’s, enjoying raw pork regularly.

Now, I’m not entirely sure why German pork can be eaten raw and American pork cannot. I can only guess it is a distinction like you have in Sushi. Like, “Sushi grade fish”.

Maybe they have “Mett grade pork”?

Though, that’s not what I am here to discuss.

What I am here to discuss is, from time to time, it’s probably healthy to challenge your beliefs. Particularly the strong ones. And, why you feel so strongly about them.

Pork can in fact be eaten raw. I have done it. I did not get sick. My German friends have not gotten sick.

Once I got over my strong belief, it isn’t bad. Not my first choice of food, but had I grown up with it as a staple in my diet, I would probably think differently.

The next time you’re in Germany, give some raw pork a try.

Just ask for Mett.