We cannot deny the fact that we all have an interesting love of food. We hail from different ethnic backgrounds and have personal limitations on what we eat and what we do not. Obviously, who doesn’t love food, but there are certain ethics and values that doesn’t allow us to have a particular food.
We believe in stringent table manners at dinner, and don’t consider eating anything that could be against of our nations identity.
Most of our religions declare certain food items fit and others unfit for human consumption. Around the world there are certain rules that apply to protocol and actual food consumption as a nation. Those rules and protocols are often known as food taboos.
Technically, taboos are proscribed by the society as improper or unacceptable factors. Whatever it is that makes food taboos, it is important to know the local culture if you travel around any countries.
These food taboos are definitely going to restrict you from trying different in your life. These food taboos will make you remember your culture, values, ethics given by your society and country.
Let’s compile some of the most interesting and prominent food taboos examples around the world.
Turtle Soup and Eggs
Back in 90s, turtle soup was a dish that was very standardized and found in every cook book. A large snapping turtle containing seven destiny types of meat, each reminiscent of pork, chicken, beef and shrimp was served as food.
The turtle egg, with white texture, slightly salty, reminiscent of an ocean breeze, was a very tasty and popular dish back few years ago. But, with time there was a gradual awareness on the endangered status of the turtles and government started to take actions to remove them from the market.
Now, except of black marketing, turtle eggs are rarely found being sold openly. Due to the massive enthronement of turtles, its egg has become a food taboo for today’s generation.
Old Sheep (Mutton)
Mutton is considered as an old sheep consisting of very fatty meat that smells like a dam sheep. People generally eat lamp nowadays, which is a sheep less than a year old.
But, for some this food has become a taboo because of their religion and ethics. Also, for the vegetarian people, this is a dish not acceptable due to the rules and ethics they follow.
So, with the increase in health conscious people around the world, people have slowly started to turn into a vegetarian which is also turning the old sheep (mutton) to become a taboo.
Smoking
Smoking has become a part of food taboo around the world. In the 90s, people could put on a cigarette and enjoy it wherever they wanted to.
There was no any sort of restriction and awareness about health issues of smoking. Today, with the number of population increasing, smoking has also increased.
However, it is very regulated and illegal to smoke indoor in public places. Smoking has somehow become a food taboo, that our culture and ethics restrict us just because it affects our health.
Lamb lungs
Lamb lungs are the food filled with blood, salt and a very hot powder prepared with ground smoked black chilies. It is a dish prepared by cutting the animal’s throat, usually a lamb, and drowning it in own blood.
This food was eatable years ago as it was a traditionally practiced custom. But today, this ritual is not an everyday practice anymore and for many it has already become a taboo.
Horse Meat
Horse meat may not be a major meat outside of Central Asia, but that still doesn’t stop the fact that people used to eat horse meat all over the world, including some parts of Europe and South America.
It is a dish, typically seen as a taboo meat today, primarily because of the role that horses play in many cultures as a worker, and as a companion.
Foie Gras
Fat liver i.e. Foie Gras in French language, is a liver of goose or duck famous for its taste and eaten many years ago.
After the controversy caused by this dish regarding the practice of force feeding, which involves sticking a long tube down the throat of a goose or duck and torture to the animals, this food has become a taboo for today’s generation. Europe has already set a law not to produce Foie Gras inside the country.
