Are smoked pork chops from the butcher safe to eat without any further cooking?

Question

I bought a smoked pork chop from the butcher yesterday, and assumed I would cook it like any other pork chop, but after looking at it, it seems like it may be edible as is. The appearance is close to that of a cooked ham.

I saw some suggestions online about using it in soups or as breakfast meat, but nothing mentioned just eating it fresh from butcher.

Answer

It is "probably safe" but (IMHO) not worth the risk.

The chief "scare" for pork is a condition called trichinosis (or trichinellosis). There has not been a case of this disease reported to the Center for Disease Control from commercial pork since 2001. Assuming your butcher received the chops from a reputable commercial source then you it should be 'ok'. If the source was wild hog then there is some risk.

Personally I would just as soon grill it up than take the chance, but you should know that smoking is not considered an adequate safeguard.

(your profile does not say where you are, so if you are outside the US, your mileage may vary)

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