Is It Safe to Eat Meat During the FMD Outbreak? Here’s What You Need to Know

As fresh cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are confirmed across South Africa, many consumers are asking a simple question: Is it still safe to eat beef and other red meat?

The short answer: Yesproperly handled and properly cooked meat is safe.

But to understand why, it helps to know what FMD actually isand what it isn’t.

What Is Foot-and-Mouth Disease?

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animalscattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.

It spreads quickly between animals through:

• Direct contact

• Contaminated equipment

• Contaminated feed

• Transport vehicles

Important: It is not the same as “hand, foot and mouth disease,” which is a separate illness that affects young children.

Can Humans Get FMD?

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) , human infection with FMD is extremely rare.

When cases have occurred historically, they were typically linked to people working in very close contact with infected animalsnot through consumption.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that FMD does not pose a public health threat in the way diseases such as avian influenza or rabies do.

Is Meat Safe to Eat?

Yesprovided it is properly handled and cooked.

Key points:

• Meat from visibly sick animals does not enter the formal food chain. Infected animals are quarantined and controlled.

• The virus does not survive normal cooking temperatures. Thorough cooking kills it.

• Pasteurised milk is also safe.

So Why All the Concern?

The real impact of FMD is economic, not medical.

Outbreaks trigger:

• Livestock movement bans

• Auction closures

• Export restrictions from major trading partners

This affects farmers, meat processors, and exportersand can sometimes influence supply chains and prices.

But it does not mean supermarket meat is unsafe.

What About Informal Slaughter or Unregulated Meat?

Consumers are urged to:

• Buy from reputable retailers and butcheries

• Ensure meat is inspected

• Avoid buying from visibly sick animals

This advice applies at all timesnot only during outbreaks.

The Bottom Line

FMD is a serious animal disease. It spreads fast, costs billions, and disrupts trade.

But for consumers, the risk is negligible. Cook your meat properly, buy from trusted sources, and ignore the scare stories.

The only thing you need to worry about at the dinner table is the seasoning.

{Source: IOL}

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