5 foods that are popular in some countries but taboo in others
Consider yourself warned.
One culture's trash can be another's treasure, especially when it comes to food. So, one user on the Q&A forum Quora asked, "What food is popular in your country, but unacceptable in other countries?"
Chances are, you'll see something deemed unfit for the dinner table (or polite conversation) in your own culture, so consider yourself warned.
Check out some of the most popular answers:
One culture's trash can be another's treasure, especially when it comes to food. So, one user on the Q&A forum Quora asked, "What food is popular in your country, but unacceptable in other countries?"
Chances are, you'll see something deemed unfit for the dinner table (or polite conversation) in your own culture, so consider yourself warned.
Check out some of the most popular answers:
1. Balut (boiled duck embryo)
Balut, a developing duck embryo boiled inside its shell, is a common street food in Vietnam, said Tran Quyet Thang.
"Many have it every day. It's actually quite nutritious, especially for children. If you are from the West though, you would probably freak out when you see one."
In fact, Balut was featured on an episode of Fear Factor:
But despite Americans' disgust, balut is popular not just in Vietnam but also in the Philippines and Thailand under the name khai luuk.
2. Raw meat
Many Westerners have become fond of raw fish in the form of sushi, but in Ethiopia, it's common to eat beef and other meats raw, as well.
"You bring in the injera, spices like Awaze (a sauce made from pepper) or mustard, the knife, and you dig in," Eyob Fitwi Abraham explained.
"It may look disgusting on the eyes, but if you're thinking about doing a dare, you may get addicted ... And oh man, the socializing that comes with it, eating with friends. You can't beat that."
Another bonus? It requires no cooking time.
3. Rice barbecued in soda bottles
Though not widely accepted, cooking rice in soft-drink bottles is a fad in Brazil, Jose Geraldo Gouvea said.
Fans of this dish mix rice, oil, and salt inside a bottle and throw it on the grill.
People outside Brazil may be concerned about the effects of melting a bottle around food, and they might be onto something.
"Heating such bottles for so long can release some kinds of chemicals harmful to the body," Jose Geraldo Gouvea explained, citing myth-debunking site snopes.
But to others, the taste is worth the risk.
4. Barbecued burgers
Burgers aren't considered disgusting as much as totally unfit for a proper barbecue in Brazil, Ed Sant'Anna explained.
"It's something you'd find at McDonalds, not on a very important event such as a barbecue," he said. Brazilian barbecues, known as churrascos, look more like this:
Definitely not something you'd see at a fast-food restaurant.
5. Casu marzu (cheese with maggots)
Many would consider a maggot infestation a reason to steer clear of food, but for some Italians, insect larvae are appetizing.
Casu marzu (literally "rotten cheese"), pecorino seasoned with maggots, is considered a delicacy in Italy, though Eureopean Union regulations have forced it onto the black market, according to Andrea Scarpetta.
These foods may make you squirm, but don't knock 'em 'til you try 'em (unless they actually are dangerous). As these cultural differences prove, everything truly is relative.