A Cruel Delicacy: Eating Animals While They're Still Alive

Yep - you read that title right - in some parts of the world it's considered a delicacy to eat living beings while they're still conscious. I've been a vegan for almost 8 years and this is one of the sickest things I've ever heard. It came up in recent a dinner conversation, but luckily I had already finished eating my veggies by then. When I had the opportunity to do a web search I was shocked by the following findings.

* Warning, this is quite disturbing...

Stone Crab Claws (United States) ~ claws from live crabs are removed and then the crab is tossed back in the ocean where it can supposedly regrow the lost claw(s), but the process must be very traumatic and careless.

Raw Oysters (worldwide) ~ it is fairly common in the US to eat live oysters

Casu Marzu (Italy) ~ unfortunately many of us are somewhat accustomed to hearing about people eating bugs for food or "fun", so this one might not surprise you. This Italian dish consists of live maggots in sheep's milk cheese, who hatched from eggs and grew up in the cheese. Milbenkäse (Germany)/Boule de Lille (France) involves eating mite-filled cheese.

Ikizukuri (Japan) & Odori ebi (China)  ~ sushi isn't quite fresh enough for some, so some restaurants will cut fish open while alive and feed diners their fresh organs

Drunken Shrimp (China) ~ shrimp are put in a bowl of alcohol and are eaten after alive after they become "drunk"

Sannakji (Korea) ~ octopuses are chopped up alive and it is not unusual for them to have the ability to crawl off the plate even after being served (and there's video to prove it)

Ying Yang Fish (China) ~ deep frying only the bottom torso of a live fish, while it's head is left to experience the slow death

What do these dishes say about our treatment of animals? Even if you're a regular meat eater chances are you found this news horrifying. Though it's hard to understand why cultures outside of America eat the way they do (dog anyone?), these so called delicacies seem extreme and unnecessary. None of these foods are necessary for survival so it seems like the result of an obsession with eating new foods and a bizarre disregard to the suffering involved.

Whitney Lauritsen is a journalist who writes articles and makes videos on health and sustainability. Learn more about her on her website Eco-Vegan Gal.