Health officials are urging people not to follow this bizarre Christmas tradition that you may not have ever heard of.
People in Wisconsin are fans of eating uncooked meat sandwiches around the holidays traditionally known as "cannibal sandwiches", according to USA TODAY.
Heath officials are now shedding light on the risks of partaking in this tradition.
The raw meat sandwich, is commonly served on rye bread with raw onions, was listed on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's "10 holiday dishes beloved by Wisconsinites" from 2018.
Ray's Butcher Shoppe, located in Greenfield, Wisconsin, reportedly sells 1,000 pounds of raw beef for cannibal sandwiches on Christmas Eve and between 600 and 700 pounds of it on New Year's Eve, according to the outlet.
Ray's co-owner and manager Perry Podd believes that freshness counts with a raw beef sandwich.
“We want 100% lean beef, super fresh, no injections, no chemicals in it,” Podd said. “We let people season their own. Usually they’ll get the onion and the salt and pepper and a nice beer.”
Hundreds of people in the Midwest partake in the seasonal tradition each year, according to a 2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture blog post, which offers some tips for eating the sandwiches.
"If cannibal sandwiches are a tradition in your home, try this safe alternative: cook the ground beef with the same spices and toppings, until it reaches 160°F, and serve it on top of bread or crackers," the USDA said. "You may be surprised to find that it tastes better when cooked! Not to mention, you won’t be risking a trip to the hospital with every mouthful."
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