Would You Eat Poop If It Was In Your Burger?
by Pukeko
Japanese Scientist have developed a burger made from parts of human waste. No kidding. Check out the video on the page.
I Don't Eat Poop Even In the Name of Science, How About You?
You might want to sit down before reading this. Apparently Japanese scientist have actually created an artificial meat from sewage containing human feces. Not what you were expecting to find when you came here, was it? And if you are like me, your first thought is: Why? (Well actually it was my second thought, right after "eeewww, I do not eat poop."
Believe it or not they were commissioned by Tokyo Sewage to find a solution to the overabundance of sewage mud. Scientist (credit is going to Mitsuyuki Ikeda) from the Japan based Okayama Laboratory discovered a high concentration of protein in the waste due to the high levels of bacteria.
So naturally, his first thought was "I know, let's eat poop!" Sorry, I just can't resist a bit of sarcasm sometimes.
In case you are starting to worry about what is on your plate, you don't need to worry yet. This artificial meat is still in the testing and development phase.
And for those who just came to laugh - skip down about half way, and I included a few funny thing which came to mind when I was researching this topic.
Quick, What Were You Expecting?
You Read the Title, You Linked to the Page, What Did You Expect to Find?
Quick, Without Reading On, Would You Eat Synthesized Meat from Human Feces?
What's in the "Burger"?
Do you really eat poop?
- Protiens extracted from sewage mud
- A reaction enhancer
- Red food coloring
- Soy protien as a flavor enhancer
This is combined in such a way as to produce a "steak" which tastes like beef according to the initial research. From a food nutrition perspective, the meat is balanced:
- 63% protien
- 25% carboydrate
- 9% minerals
- 3% lipids
Learn More from the Video:
Eeewwwww!
Is This a Solution to the Global Food Crisis, or Just Totally Gross?
Eeewww, too gross to think about
Kris_Heeter
on 01/14/2012
No poop burgers for me! Historically I think there were some pretty bad disease epidemics back in the day when people used human feces as compost. And it's like eating the stuff your body didn't want in the first place:)
barbarab
on 08/30/2011
lol I wrote the soylent green remark then read everyone elses comments/nice to know tandemonium and I are in synch!
does recycle water really wind up as drinking water? oh dear...I thought that was only used to water plants andstuff...ugh
barbarab
on 08/30/2011
totally gross
on the other hand with all the contamination we have these days in meat we are more than likely eating it anyway...E Coli is the number one bacteria found in fecal material...if it were at least sterilized we all might be a bit healthier but ugh..a step closer to soylent green eh?
Dustytoes
on 07/02/2011
I don't eat burgers made from beef so I certainly wouldn't eat these! DIS GUS TING! There are way too many better things to eat, like grass and cobwebs.. ;)
Ramkitten
on 06/29/2011
I'm seriously trying to think about something else right now -- something that involves pretty flowers and cute kittens (wait ... no ... cute kittens poop), stuffed animals, pretty dresses. Ugh, but I can't get this awful poop burger image out of my mind. I feel ill.
jentaylorsc
on 06/21/2011
Sorry, but it is totally disgusting! I can't believe this was the great idea that they decided to come up with. Too funny though!
Really it is a good idea
Tolovaj
on 10/16/2012
Let's face it, we already eat proteins from very questionable sources. If flies can eat them, why not humans? And by the way - proteins from flies are MUCH better than proteins from cows.
LR
on 11/10/2011
I suppose I would anything if I didn't know what was in it. It is a good idea, it just need to be sold in a clever way.
GrandmaMarilyn
on 06/23/2011
Really, if you stop to think about it, it is a good idea. We already recycle the pee water for drinking water. Although, I am not sure that I could eat it knowing what it is. There are other things that I have eaten thinking they tasted good until I found out what they were and got rid of the lot.
spirituality
on 06/22/2011
Really, we eat stuff that's mainly the result of bacteria anyhow - things like cheese, alcohol anything fermented originally.
The main issue here is of course hygiene, which I'm sure they'll have solved for the most part before it hits the market.
Would I eat it ? Hard to overcome that original 'ew' feeling, but still, if it tastes good it really does sound like a great way to recycle. We are moving into a time of food prices going up, so this really isn't a bad idea. Though for me, as a vegetarian, it's not really a recommendation that this stuff tastes like steak.
Melissa
on 06/21/2011
I think it's a good idea. Think about it. They could feed it to animals. And also the starving people could eat it. It's not actually eating poop, all you eat is the bacteria from it.
These Books Came to Mind
Yes, There are Books on Poop
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| Everyone Poops Only $11.75 |
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Advantage of the Artificial Meat
(Once you get past the fact that you must eat poop!)
There actually are a number of environmentally sound reasons for creating a non-animal based meat product:
- A solution to overabundance of sewage in Japan
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions as it lowers our dependency on livestock which release methane into the atmosphere.
- Recycles and reuses
Additional advantages, it is lower calories than animal based meat and it has a similar taste. .
Disagvantages of Sewage Burgers
- Eeeeewwww! Will people ever be able to get past the idea that they have to eat poop? I don't think I could. The number one disadvantage on my list has to be that it is gross.
- Yuck
- Nasty
- Just the thought of it is stomach churning.
Ok, so I think I have established that I don't eat poop.
If You Were Starving, And To Eat Poop Burgers Was Your Only Option, What Would You Do?
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Funny article with a lot of serious questions to be asked. Thanks!
Interesting, but yuck.
I'm so glad I don't eat burgers of any kind because this would probably ruin them for me forever - even knowing they were not made from poo poo.
I was almost afraid to visit this page ... but I couldn't help myself. :-)
@WhiteOak50 - You do make an excellent point. One which I never thought of until now. Thanks.
*ummmmmmm* I am not really sure how to respond except to say "ummmmmm" You know ewwwww ( cannot believe I am about to write this) We use fertilizers in our soil when we grow vegetables. In an odd around about way aren't we eating the chemical compound of (you know). "ewwwww" I am going to go make me some tea now.
@GrandmaMarilyn and Hamshi5433 - I so agree with you. I just don't think I could ever get past the eewww factor.
Oh my gosh this is far beyond the word `disgusting`...I would rather starve to death than eat this *faints*
I agree with you, Rhonda. If I don't know what it is and it tastes good, I don't ask what it is anymore. I learned that lesson long time ago. But, if they tell me in advance, I don't know that I could get it in my mouth. Ewwwww!!!!!
@NorDac, Maybe so about the kidney filter, but I don't think about it. I think the Knowing factor is what makes it so un-palatable.