Highlights
- •
- Paper reviews several exotic and unconventional meat species consumed globally.
- •
- Case-studies: dog, equids, kangaroo, marine mammals, primates, rodents, and reptiles
- •
- Primarily reflects on demand, supply and consumer acceptance of case-study species
- •
- Taboos against consumption have functionalist, symbolic and psychological grounding.
- •
- Degree to which animals anthropomorphised plays a key role in acceptance as food.
Abstract
In
most societies, meat is more highly prized, yet more frequently
tabooed, than any other food. The reasons for these taboos are complex
and their origins have been the focus of considerable research. In this
paper, we illustrate this complexity by deliberating on several
“unconventional” or “exotic” animals that are eaten around the world,
but whose consumption evokes strong emotions, controversy and even
national discourse: dogs, equids, kangaroos, marine mammals, primates,
rodents and reptiles. We take a systematic approach, reflecting on the
historical and current demand for the meat, the manner in which this
demand is met, and how individual and societal attitudes towards these
species shape their approval as food. What emerges from this synthesis
is that conflicting views on the aforementioned species exist not only
between Western societies and elsewhere, but also in nations where these
animals are readily consumed. Moreover, such taboos are seldom based on
functionalist explanations alone, but rather have overwhelming symbolic
and psychological groundings.
Keywords
- Aversion;
- Meat;
- Proscription;
- Religion;
- Taboo;
- Traditional belief
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
