Understanding Ellen White

Statement 6: Leprosy from eating pork

“The eating of pork has produced scrofula, leprosy, and cancerous humors.” ²⁹ “God did not prohibit the Hebrews from eating swine’s flesh merely to show His authority, but because . . . it would fill the system with scrofula [a form of tuberculosis], and especially in that warm climate produced leprosy, and disease of various kinds. Its influence upon the system in that climate was far more injurious than in a colder climate” ³⁰ UEGW 184.4

There are three issues here: the identity of biblical leprosy, whether eating pork contributes to its spread, and the effect of climate (not a unique idea in her day). There is evidence (Lev. 13, 14) that biblical leprosy included a broader range of ailments than is included in the modern use of the term (e.g., the whole range scale diseases and even mold, mildew, or fungus on a house or clothing). Modern Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is the same as one of the diseases that came under the biblical heading of leprosy. ³¹ There are no published human-based clinical studies that eating pork causes Hansen’s disease, but there is a study in which mice fed a pork diet showed greater predisposition to leprosy than those on a pork-free diet. ³² There is also evidence that Hansen’s disease can be contracted by eating certain types of meat. ³³ Thus, links between diet and leprosy have been shown in humans, and between pork eating and leprosy in mice, suggesting that White’s statements may be reasonable even with a limited modern definition of leprosy. Furthermore, Ellen White’s statement is fully consistent with the broader biblical definition of leprosy. UEGW 185.1

Consumption of pig’s flesh is hardly healthy and is associated with other diseases such as trichinosis and other parasitic diseases as well as cardiovascular diseases related to its fat content—whether or not there is a link between pork eating and Hansen’s disease. Ellen White’s advice to avoid pig’s flesh for health reasons appears sound. The effect of climate is reasonable in that pathogens and parasites normally proliferate much more quickly in a warmer environment. UEGW 185.2