[randomThoughts9]

> meat fed to pets is (largely) not suitable for human consumption

30% unsuitable for human consumption? This choosiness is a just one more sign of affluence and one of the habits we have to get rid of if we want to improve our ecological footprint.

Go to a rural village in a developing country and you will see them using 95% easily.

This is just

[yorwba]

The choosiness is also culture-dependent.

I have eaten pig feet, pig stomach, shark fin, unidentifiable organs and very bony meat at somewhat upscale restaurants in China. I'm sure there are some foods that are seen as basically inedible in China, but those do not necessarily coincide with Western tastes.

A lot of this is probably influenced by perceptions of "poor-people food" (like lobster) instead of being based in human nutritional needs. My Chinese friend was surprised when I remarked on the great taste of grilled pig liver, since it was the least expensive of the dishes he had me try out.

[otp124]

> A lot of this is probably influenced by perceptions of "poor-people food" (like lobster)

Since when is lobster considered a "poor-people food"? That is the exact impression I get when it's the most expensive entree on most menus.

[Rockslide]

It was until the mid-19th century.

Prior to this time, lobster was considered a mark of poverty or as a food for indentured servants or lower members of society in Maine, Massachusetts, and the Canadian Maritimes. It has been suggested servants specified in employment agreements that they would not eat lobster more than twice per week, however there is no evidence for this. Lobster was also commonly served in prisons, much to the displeasure of inmates. American lobster was initially deemed worthy only of being used as fertilizer or fish bait, and until well into the 20th century, it was not viewed as more than a low-priced canned staple food. [0]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster

[askvictor]

Oysters too

[tree_of_item]

Whoa, is pig's feet supposed to be an example of an "inedible" food? Some people in my family love that stuff.

[b5]

   > and one of the habits we have to get rid of if we
   > want to improve our ecological footprint.

A much, much bigger improvement (reduction) of humanity's ecological footprint would be for everyone to go vegan two days a week. That would potentially have a ~25% reduction in the number of animals reared and used, and would bring a commensurate decrease in ecological footprint. I think that's a worthy goal.

Disclaimer: I eat meat, but not very often now. I sometimes take milk in tea, but mostly drink green tea and water now. The rest of the time, I follow an Engine 2 diet[1].

[1]: https://www.engine2diet.com

[vlehto]

So 25% reduction in meat I use by not eating it myself vs. not feeding it to a dog. Excuse me, but I can't see a difference here.

[jaclaz]

>Go to a rural village in a developing country and you will see them using 95% easily.

Using 95%? Sure.

Eating 95%? Come on.

We will have to define what is "meat", in pets food a lot of parts of the animal that wouldn't be considered "meat" are used.

And there are some Laws/rules about some parts not being fit for human consumption (of course depending on the country).

[xapata]

If you boil meat to make broth and then throw out the chunks after some hours, you have pulled most of the nutrients into the broth. So, yeah, I would say they use most of the animal.

[paulddraper]

Yeah, more hot dogs.