I’ll take my meat cooked, thanks.

Ever heard of a ‘cannibal sandwich’?  Apparently it’s a tradition in Wisconsin.  I’ve lived in Chicagoland all my life and I’ve never heard of this.  And frankly, I could do without ever trying it.  And local health officials are warning against it, so they’re on my side.

Also called a “tiger meat” sandwich, it consists of raw beef (not tiger) garnished with salt, pepper, and raw onions served on rye bread.

That might sound gross to you — it sure does to me — but I guess it’s a holiday tradition for hundreds of Wisonsinites.  Enough that the Wisconsin Health Department issued a warning that eating raw meat can lead to salmonella, e. coli, or other bacteria-related illnesses.  The USDA says ground beef should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.

I like my beef a little pink, but you can keep the clear red stuff.  Tigers can have my share of that.