Watch'Imitation Calamari' Investigated By 'This American Life,' Suggested To Have Dubious, Pork-Based Origin
Though it has a shape and texture similar to the real thing, its component parts are decidedly different. While calamari comes from squid, the replica is supposedly made of hog rectum, otherwise known as "bung."
What's more, Steve Haruch, a journalist for the Nashville Scene, claims to have chowed down on pork bung and concluded, "prepared the right way, it could pass for calamari."
That said, a disconcerting report from Oceana, an ocean conservation watchdog, notes that seafood fraud occurs at shocking levels in major metropolitan areas, including Boston (48 percent), Los Angeles (55 percent), Miami (31 percent), and New York City (39 percent).
The group concluded that seafood fraud can happen at any step of a product's supply chain -- the restaurant, the distributor, or the processing and packaging phase.
I guess once it's fried, nobody notices and difference?
Follow
Befriend (1)
246 threads
4,658 comments
That's some damn fine example of taking a sow's ear and making a silk purse right there. I mean if they can take chicharon and make it look let alone taste like squid. Then I'm all for it. These people should win a Nobel Peace prize. But the real ones they keep in the back, that are reserved for the people that actually did Dickall.
Follow
Befriend (9)
160 threads
1,530 comments
Premium
eek-I could have been eating pork's rectum when I went to the Chinese buffet?
Follow
Befriend (9)
410 threads
4,107 comments
Baltimore, MD
lostand confused says
Or worse.
Follow
Befriend (1)
246 threads
4,658 comments
lostand confused says
See THAT'S why I always go for tentacles. You can't forge those.
Though when you consider the cheap cost of squid, and the availability compared to entrails, it doesn't add up. I mean there are actually cultures that eat pork rectums, and they are also used as sausage casings. I would suspect that either price or volume would be prohibitive. Even Veal hearts, used for Antacucho a Peruvian delicacy has gotten out of hand over the last 10 years. We used to buy a case for like $12 which had about 5 to 6 hearts in it. Now you can only find them in single half sections. And you'll pay about $5.00 for that half a heart.
It's like people that suspect a Chinese restaurant could serve Cat consistently. When a place that has a high turn over would need about 3 or 4 cats a day. That would be a hard feat to round up that many feral cats in a given day. And to raise that many cats to maturity would also be cost prohibitive, have you seen the price of Cat food these days?
There are plenty of outlets that sells inferior beef, pork, or chicken cuts, for a hell of a lot cheaper than those alternative ways. And truth be told, you would probably be better off eating cat.
Follow
Befriend (9)
410 threads
4,107 comments
Baltimore, MD
CaptainShuddup says
Obligatory:
Follow
Befriend (4)
117 threads
17,655 comments
Premium
I only eat whole squids at Japanese restaurants.
Follow
Befriend
13 threads
1,478 comments
CaptainShuddup says
Reminds me of the persistent rumor going around many years ago that McDonald's put ground up worms in their Big Macs. A lot of people believed it, until someone pointed out that worms actually cost more per pound than ground beef.
Follow
Befriend (9)
410 threads
4,107 comments
Baltimore, MD
It's a potential solution to our overfishing (really overpopulation) problem.
Follow
Befriend (4)
117 threads
17,655 comments
Premium
It is overpopulation.
We have not seen the full effect yet because much of the world is dirt poor. If the so-called middle class expands massively as some optimists suggest, we will have a problem of biblical proportion.
Population growth only benefits rent seekers.
Follow
Befriend (3)
13 threads
2,198 comments
San Jose, CA
Premium
Peter P says
And organized religion.
Follow
Befriend
63 threads
476 comments
Simi Valley, CA
you haven't lived until you have had Deep Fried Puppy served with Hot Garlic Sauce.
Follow
Befriend (4)
328 threads
913 comments
That pic looks almost as good as Granny's Chitlins. They were always great, fresh from a hog killing.
Follow
Befriend (28)
169 threads
4,153 comments
Premium
When people come over late to the White House after the chef goes off duty, Obama just throws white babies in the fryolator and serves them up with home-brewed White House ale.