ABSTRACT
Meat undergoes a formal and rigorous process of inspection which helps control the public health impact of these parasites in the EU and other countries using these systems. There are meat-associated examples from the same two parasitic classes, liver flukes and tapeworms. Cestodes associated with meat typically have two stages in the life cycle, the cystic stage, or bladder worm, and the adult tapeworm. The bladder worm stage is typically given its own name by meat inspectors and veterinarians, which may cause confusion in the nomenclature. Humans only become infested with the cystic form of Taenia solium by ingesting the fertilised eggs. The main nematode parasite associated with meat is Trichinella spiralis. Trichinella spiralis is mainly associated with temperate regions of the world. There have been no human cases associated with UK-produced meat since 1975. Meat inspection is carried out in slaughter houses by veterinarians and meat Inspectors.
