So I was in France the other week and my good sense may have deserted me. I'd been buying ham for a couple of days, to make sandwiches and was slightly confused by not speaking the language. Anyhow, without really thinking about it i bought something labelled Bacon Fume and ate it in a sandwich (raw) - the thing was, the style of packaging and location in the shop was identical to the ham, so I guess I just assumed it was ham by a different name. I'd had a little epiphany that this might be the same as bacon in the UK, which needs cooking, but had been convinced otherwise by my friends, who'd done the same thing. However, the more I think about it, it did have a similar texture to raw (UK) bacon and now I'm a little worried - should I be? As a hyperchondriac what should I be worried about?
Raw pork can contain worms which are killed during cooking, there is also the risk of salmonella poisoning from raw or undercooked meat, that would have manifested itself by now though so you are safe from that one. Personally, I wouldn't worry at all.
You worry too much.
As a teenager I used to always sneak in the pantry and squeeze the sausagement out of raw sausages and eat it. Also I'd munch on raw potatoes. Never did me any harm (well, apart from having tape worm for 15 years....)
Some years ago whilst staying with a French family, we were offered a sandwich (le sandwich!) and asked if we liked ham. "Of course" We were amazed to se our hostess simply add smoked bacon to plain bread and hand it over with a smile. It is clear that this is their normal practice.
Don't worry!I have also regularly eaten raw bacon since a child because it's delicious.My OH and I also always by Jamon Serano when on holiday (in Menorca Squad) and eat in baguettes on the beach every day (Pregonda, La Vall or Es Talaier are high on my list) . It's just like thin raw bacon as is Parma ham. We in the UK seem a bit too paranoid about this kind of thing.
This may be of interest to you, MrP, as your bacon sounds very much like Parma or Serrano hams...both of which are dry-cured and aged for years in some cases.