Wisconsin Department of Health Warns Against Eating 'Cannibal Sandwiches'

The Wisconsin Department of Health issued its annual warning against eating "cannibal sandwiches." The raw-beef sandwiches, which are usually served on bread with onions and seasoned with salt and pepper, are a holiday delicacy for many Wisconsinites, but they pose a potential health risk.

"Many Wisconsin families consider them to be a holiday tradition, but eating them poses a threat for Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter and Listeria bacteria that can make you sick. (And, no, it doesn't matter where you buy your beef!)," the department wrote on Facebook.

The department then reminded everybody that ground beef should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite the yearly warning from health officials, many residents continue to eat the "cannibal sandwiches." The department said that there have been eight outbreaks linked to the sandwiches since 1986. The largest outbreak occurred in 1994 when over 150 people were sickened with Salmonella linked to uncooked ground beef.

Photo: Getty Images