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Horse
In the past 5-10 years, horsemeat has become more commonly accepted as a consumable meat but remains very controversial. Most horsemeat is produced and consumed in China, Central Asia, Europe, and South America.
The controversy surrounding horsemeat is that many see horses as pets or companions rather than food. Farms producing horses specifically for the purpose of horsemeat are becoming more popular and are often compared to farms that raise cows and chickens.
In the past 5-10 years, horsemeat has become more commonly accepted as a consumable meat but remains very controversial. Most horsemeat is produced and consumed in China, Central Asia, Europe, and South America.
The controversy surrounding horsemeat is that many see horses as pets or companions rather than food. Farms producing horses specifically for the purpose of horsemeat are becoming more popular and are often compared to farms that raise cows and chickens.
2.
Foie Gras
Foie gras is the fattened liver of a duck or goose, resulting in a rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth flavour. With a history beginning in 2500 B.C. in ancient Egypt, today, foie gras is heralded as a French delicacy, served in nearly every high-end restaurant around the world.
The controversy around foie gras is the practice of âgavage,â or the force-feeding of the ducks or geese, usually through tubes, prior to being âharvestedâ for their meat and especially their liver. The force-feeding causes the liver to enlarge and develop a richer taste for eventual human consumption.
Foie gras is the fattened liver of a duck or goose, resulting in a rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth flavour. With a history beginning in 2500 B.C. in ancient Egypt, today, foie gras is heralded as a French delicacy, served in nearly every high-end restaurant around the world.
The controversy around foie gras is the practice of âgavage,â or the force-feeding of the ducks or geese, usually through tubes, prior to being âharvestedâ for their meat and especially their liver. The force-feeding causes the liver to enlarge and develop a richer taste for eventual human consumption.
3.
Shark Fin
Since the 1300âs, shark fin soup has been a Chinese delicacy, and is now served in restaurants all around the world. It contains shark fin as one of the main ingredients and is traditionally served at banquets for weddings and important occasions. Dried shark fin is also often given as a gift because it is seen as a very luxurious item and culturally significant of wealth and respect.
Unfortunately, the demand for shark fin, especially in mainland China, has increased to the point where the ocean ecosystem is said to be in danger due to the declining shark population. The practice of âshark finningâ is not regulated and is seen as very cruel because in many cases, live sharks are captured at sea, their fins are cut off, and the sharks are set back to sea fin-less where they often die because they canât swim properly. In some cases, however, sharks are fished whole and the rest of the shark is also used along with the fin.
In 2006, NBA basketball player Yao Ming pledged to stop eating shark fin soup in response to the controversy. Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin was known to walk out of Chinese restaurants if shark fin soup was listed on the menu.
Since the 1300âs, shark fin soup has been a Chinese delicacy, and is now served in restaurants all around the world. It contains shark fin as one of the main ingredients and is traditionally served at banquets for weddings and important occasions. Dried shark fin is also often given as a gift because it is seen as a very luxurious item and culturally significant of wealth and respect.
Unfortunately, the demand for shark fin, especially in mainland China, has increased to the point where the ocean ecosystem is said to be in danger due to the declining shark population. The practice of âshark finningâ is not regulated and is seen as very cruel because in many cases, live sharks are captured at sea, their fins are cut off, and the sharks are set back to sea fin-less where they often die because they canât swim properly. In some cases, however, sharks are fished whole and the rest of the shark is also used along with the fin.
In 2006, NBA basketball player Yao Ming pledged to stop eating shark fin soup in response to the controversy. Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin was known to walk out of Chinese restaurants if shark fin soup was listed on the menu.
4.
Turtle
In parts of China, Asia, and the eastern United States, turtle is a popular delicacy and often made into turtle soup. From common snapping turtles to red-eared slider turtles, one of the main controversies around eating turtle is that some of the species hunted and eaten are endangered â on the other hand, some are not. Aside from the endangered issue, turtles (like horses, frogs, dogs) are usually seen in the âpetâ category rather than the âfoodâ one.
In parts of China, Asia, and the eastern United States, turtle is a popular delicacy and often made into turtle soup. From common snapping turtles to red-eared slider turtles, one of the main controversies around eating turtle is that some of the species hunted and eaten are endangered â on the other hand, some are not. Aside from the endangered issue, turtles (like horses, frogs, dogs) are usually seen in the âpetâ category rather than the âfoodâ one.
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Dolphin
In some parts of Japan like the village of Taiji, fishing for dolphins is a hundred-year-old tradition where dolphins are simply seen as another species of fish and fried up or made into stew or soup. While these communities would eat dolphin without another thought, they believe the deer to be sacred, and would never hunt or eat deer like many other cultures do.
Dolphin activists claim that the practices are inhumane, although they are not significantly different than regular fishing practices: dolphins are caught, hooked, and gutted while still alive. Recent findings have shown that dolphin meat contains more mercury than most fish and the governments of the villages that eat dolphin meat have stopped local schools from serving it â a step in the decline of dolphin meat eating.
In some parts of Japan like the village of Taiji, fishing for dolphins is a hundred-year-old tradition where dolphins are simply seen as another species of fish and fried up or made into stew or soup. While these communities would eat dolphin without another thought, they believe the deer to be sacred, and would never hunt or eat deer like many other cultures do.
Dolphin activists claim that the practices are inhumane, although they are not significantly different than regular fishing practices: dolphins are caught, hooked, and gutted while still alive. Recent findings have shown that dolphin meat contains more mercury than most fish and the governments of the villages that eat dolphin meat have stopped local schools from serving it â a step in the decline of dolphin meat eating.
6.
Ortolan
The Ortolan Bunting is a small bird known as a delicacy in France and western Asia â so much so that the population is now in decline â and itâs illegal to eat the bird in some countries. Aside from its failing numbers, the preparation is also deemed cruel and controversial.
The bird is caught alive and then blinded or put in a darkened cage. In the cage, the birds are force-fed until they get very fat. The bird is then drowned in brandy and roasted. When served, the diner is asked to place a napkin over their face to keep in the smell of the roasted bird. The whole bird is to be put in the dinerâs mouth and the head bitten off. Then the diner chews on the bird until consumed, usually just a few minutes.
The Ortolan Bunting is a small bird known as a delicacy in France and western Asia â so much so that the population is now in decline â and itâs illegal to eat the bird in some countries. Aside from its failing numbers, the preparation is also deemed cruel and controversial.
The bird is caught alive and then blinded or put in a darkened cage. In the cage, the birds are force-fed until they get very fat. The bird is then drowned in brandy and roasted. When served, the diner is asked to place a napkin over their face to keep in the smell of the roasted bird. The whole bird is to be put in the dinerâs mouth and the head bitten off. Then the diner chews on the bird until consumed, usually just a few minutes.
7.
Monkey Brain
It was once purported that eating monkey brains can cure impotence and has, in part, led to the over-hunting of monkeys in Indonesia. A dish often attributed to China, monkey brains are also eaten in places like Africa, South American, and South East Asia. Itâs rumoured that the monkeyâs brains are eaten while the monkey is still alive, which is the reason why many find this inhumane and controversial.
It was once purported that eating monkey brains can cure impotence and has, in part, led to the over-hunting of monkeys in Indonesia. A dish often attributed to China, monkey brains are also eaten in places like Africa, South American, and South East Asia. Itâs rumoured that the monkeyâs brains are eaten while the monkey is still alive, which is the reason why many find this inhumane and controversial.
8.
Polar Bears
With the huge decline in the polar bear population due to global warming and trophy hunting, polar bear hunting practices of the northern aboriginal communities in Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia have come into question, despite its cultural and historical significance.
The arctic aboriginal communities have been hunting polar bears for hundreds of years as subsistence: fur for clothing, fat for oil, and meat for eating (although this is recommended only for aboriginal communities whose digestive systems can adapt to the meat).
In most arctic regions of the world, communities are allowed only a certain number of bears per year for subsistence but unfortunately in Canada, trophy hunting is allowed and helps to fund many aboriginal communities. This is exceptionally sad because the bears are no longer used for what they can provide in terms of subsistence, but are wasted.
With the huge decline in the polar bear population due to global warming and trophy hunting, polar bear hunting practices of the northern aboriginal communities in Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia have come into question, despite its cultural and historical significance.
The arctic aboriginal communities have been hunting polar bears for hundreds of years as subsistence: fur for clothing, fat for oil, and meat for eating (although this is recommended only for aboriginal communities whose digestive systems can adapt to the meat).
In most arctic regions of the world, communities are allowed only a certain number of bears per year for subsistence but unfortunately in Canada, trophy hunting is allowed and helps to fund many aboriginal communities. This is exceptionally sad because the bears are no longer used for what they can provide in terms of subsistence, but are wasted.
9.
Eaten Alive: Frog Heart, Fish, Baby Octopus
Thereâs fresh â and then thereâs fresh â the controversy behind these dishes stem from activists who believe that itâs cruel to eat animals while theyâre still alive.
In Asia, youâll find your fish so fresh that itâs still moving. For example, frog heart is served with the frog still alive â and the heart still beating as you chomp down on it. Similarly, shrimp, sea urchin, lobster, and other fish are often served with the fins and âwhiskersâ still moving â a testament to the freshness of the fish. In Korea, san-nak-ji or live baby octopus is served still wriggling on your plate â the key is to chew it thoroughly before swallowing so that the tentacles donât latch onto your throat while it goes down.
Thereâs fresh â and then thereâs fresh â the controversy behind these dishes stem from activists who believe that itâs cruel to eat animals while theyâre still alive.
In Asia, youâll find your fish so fresh that itâs still moving. For example, frog heart is served with the frog still alive â and the heart still beating as you chomp down on it. Similarly, shrimp, sea urchin, lobster, and other fish are often served with the fins and âwhiskersâ still moving â a testament to the freshness of the fish. In Korea, san-nak-ji or live baby octopus is served still wriggling on your plate â the key is to chew it thoroughly before swallowing so that the tentacles donât latch onto your throat while it goes down.
10.
Blue Fin Tuna
From the Mediterranean to Japan, Atlantic or northern blue fin tuna is quickly being fished to extinction and has become a highly controversial food. Blue fin tuna is highly prized by sushi chefs and is a $7.2 billion industry in Japan.
However, the way blue fin tuna is being fished now is not sustainable â blue fin tuna is already extinct in the Black Sea â but there is outcry from restaurateurs who need to serve it or lose customers.
From the Mediterranean to Japan, Atlantic or northern blue fin tuna is quickly being fished to extinction and has become a highly controversial food. Blue fin tuna is highly prized by sushi chefs and is a $7.2 billion industry in Japan.
However, the way blue fin tuna is being fished now is not sustainable â blue fin tuna is already extinct in the Black Sea â but there is outcry from restaurateurs who need to serve it or lose customers.
