Pulled my beef roast out of the slow cooker and saw these weird white stringy things poking out of the meat. They look like little worms or parasites. Is the meat infested?

do, the softer, gelatinized collagen may be pushed to the surface or become more prominent within the meat.

5. Normal White Strings Versus True Parasites: Key Visual Differences

 

While it’s easy to mistake these white strings for something more sinister, there are distinct differences between normal connective tissue and  parasites. Connective tissue is usually soft, gelatinous, and can be easily pulled apart with a fork. It often appears in clusters or bands.

 Parasites, on the other hand, would appear as distinct, separate entities embedded within the  meat.