Tag: Endangered species

Originating from the Garo Hills of Northeast India, the endangered wild citrus species *Citrus indica* holds significant cultural and medicinal value for local communities, particularly the Garo tribe. This small, sour fruit is utilized for far more than culinary purposes, including traditional remedies and spiritual ceremonies.

Recent reports indicate that wild Atlantic salmon populations across the North Atlantic have declined by as much as 70% over the last few decades, leading to endangered status in many regions. This poses a critical question for consumers: is it okay to eat wild Atlantic salmon? The short answer is no, but the full story is more complex.

Did you know that the world's largest seed, the Coco de Mer, is also arguably the rarest nut? While many people think of expensive macadamias, this giant, protected nut from the Seychelles takes the title of what is the rarest nut due to its strict regulations and limited habitat.

In one reported mass poisoning event in Tanzania, seven people, including a three-year-old child, died after consuming sea turtle meat, a danger that also applies to ingesting turtle blood. This tragic reality starkly contrasts with the myth that consuming turtle blood is good for you, a belief that is not only scientifically unfounded but incredibly dangerous.

According to a 2021 news report from Tanzania, over 45 people were hospitalized and several died after consuming contaminated sea turtle meat. This raises serious questions about the safety and health benefits of a traditional dish that is prized by some for its nutritional value. Is turtle soup good for health, or are the risks too great?

Unlike common yellow turmeric, black tumeric is a rare medicinal herb with a deep bluish-black rhizome, and due to over-harvesting, it is now an endangered species in its native habitat.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur annually, and consuming certain animals can be a direct cause. For various reasons, including toxicity, ethical concerns, and ecological impact, many creatures should be off the human menu. This guide explores which animals pose the greatest risks and why you should avoid them.

Globally, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered, primarily due to human activities like harvesting for meat and eggs. This critical conservation status, alongside significant health risks, frames the modern consideration of whether a turtle is a good source of protein, an inquiry rooted in outdated culinary traditions and survival scenarios.

A 2012 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Wisconsin was linked to the raw beef dish known regionally as "tiger meat," highlighting the severe health risks. The question "how much protein does tiger meat have" has two vastly different and dangerous answers, one concerning a raw culinary tradition and the other an endangered feline predator.

Shark fins are primarily cartilage, and scientific research has found they offer virtually no nutritional value. Far from being a health tonic, eating shark fin can expose consumers to dangerous levels of contaminants like mercury and the neurotoxin BMAA.