Is it okay to eat squirrel brains?

Doctors in Kentucky have issued a warning that people should not eat squirrel brains, a regional delicacy, because squirrels may carry a variant of mad cow disease that can be transmitted to humans and is fatal.

What can you get from eating squirrel brains?

His penchant for squirrel meat seems to have inadvertently exposed him to an incredibly rare fatal brain disorder, the first time this disorder was ever contracted in the United States. Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease is a rare brain disorder caused by misfolding brain proteins called prions.

Can you get CJD from squirrel meat?

Since that brief report, there has been no convincing evidence found suggesting that the consumption of squirrel meat, brain or otherwise, is a risk factor for any prion disease. While prion diseases have been identified in several other types of mammals, they have never been identified in squirrels.

Can you get sick eating squirrel?

It is possible to get sick from eating squirrels. Some carry Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is more commonly known as mad-cow disease. Eating too much squirrel can increase your risk for exposure to this disease which is known to eat holes in the brain and can be fatal.

What do squirrel brains taste like?

A cooked squirrel brain is about the size of a ping-pong ball and, according to those who have tried it, tastes a little like liver, only mushier. It’s not certain how many squirrel brains one would have to eat to be at risk of acquiring mad cow disease, but just a small one would turn me green.

Is squirrel meat healthy to eat?

Food experts point out squirrel is an environmentally responsible meal: a sustainable, healthy, and local source of meat with an appealing nutty flavor that comes from a life spent stuffing oneself on hickory nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, and almonds.

What does squirrel meat taste like?

To some people, squirrel meat tastes like chicken, to some, it tastes like a lighter version of pork. The taste of squirrel meat can also be compared to veal, lamb, or rabbit meat. Squirrel meat is game meat with a distinctive flavor that one would definitely love to taste again.

How do you cook squirrel?

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees.
2. Fill a large skillet, dutch oven, or deep fryer with oil and heat on medium-low until the oil reaches about 350 degrees.
3. Fry the squirrel 1 to 2 pieces at a time until golden brown on all sides, making sure each piece has plenty of room and the oil temperature doesn’t drop too rapidly.

What are cooked cow brains called?

Calf’s brains, or cervelle de veau, is a traditional delicacy in Europe and Morocco. It is the brain of a calf consumed as meat. It is often served with tongue, sauteed with beurre noir and capers, or mixed with scrambled eggs.

Can you eat raw cow brain?

The brains of cows – or any other animal – are not inherently toxic or venomous. And are generally “safe” to eat.

Is squirrel healthy to eat?

To prevent the risk of contracting CJD and other diseases from infected squirrels, hunt them during the winter and avoid eating their brains. Generally, squirrel meat is safe to eat and offers lots of proteins and other important vitamins. The meat is also lean for people who have health problems.

Can you get mad cow disease from eating squirrels?

While the patients could have contracted the disease from eating beef and not squirrels, there has not been a single confirmed case of mad cow disease in the United States, Dr. Weisman said.

What happens if you eat squirrel brains?

Man Dies from Extremely Rare Disease After Eating Squirrel Brains. The man had also lost the ability to walk on his own. An MRI of the man’s head revealed a striking finding: The brain scan looked similar to those seen in people with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a fatal brain condition caused by infectious proteins called prions.

Is it safe to eat squirrel brains in Kentucky?

Kentucky Doctors Warn Against a Regional Dish: Squirrels’ Brains. Doctors in Kentucky have issued a warning that people should not eat squirrel brains, a regional delicacy, because squirrels may carry a variant of mad cow disease that can be transmitted to humans and is fatal.

Can you get Creutzfeldt Jakob disease from squirrel brains?

Since every one of the 11 people with the disease ate squirrel brains, it seems prudent for people to avoid this practice until more is known, he said. The warning, describing the first five cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, will appear in tomorrow’s issue of The Lancet, a British medical publication.