Rat snacks can solve world food price crisis: Indian official

[tannybogus]

Eating rats is the best way for rich and poor people to solve the global crisis of rising food prices, an Indian official said Wednesday as he unveiled his plan to put rodents on menus.
Regular rat snacks would translate into fewer rodents eating precious grain stocks -- 50 percent of which are lost in the northeastern state of Bihar every year to the animals, said Vijay Prakash, secretary of the state's welfare department.

"This will help in mitigating the global food crisis. We are sure that it will work wonders," Prakash told AFP. "It will save half our grain, and will also reduce villagers' dependence on food stock."
Prakash's plan promotes consumption of rat meat in homes, street stalls, restaurants and even international five-star hotels.
He said he was also holding talks with prestigious hotels outside India to encourage them to put rat meat on their menus, but admitted his scheme had to overcome public prejudice.

"The only issue is how people react to rat meat, but I think it will not be a problem," he said.
"Some socially deprived people in Bihar have always consumed rat meat. If they can eat rats, why can't the rest of the people?" he said.
Members of the Mushar community and some other impoverished groups have traditionally eaten rats in India.
"Rat meat will make up nutrition deficiencies among villagers, since rats are a major source of protein," Prakash said.

http://comments.breitbart.com/080813162159bj5c5chl/

Please, please do not let the Repugs get a look at this idea!

[Swamp Rat]

1. THE HORROR!!!

[Taverner]

2. As long as you cook them thoroughly - Rats, bugs, snakes, vermin can all be food

Makes sense to me :shrug:

[texastoast]

3. Hey, it works for those people on "Survivor"

You get hungry enough, it sounds completely tasty.

With apologies to Swamp Rat.

[Lorien]

4. Well, they are a major food source for wolves and coyotes

if it works for those large predators, then why not? (Though I still won't eat mammals ever again).

[brentspeak]

5. Is this from The Onion?

[tannybogus]

12. Nope!

The Onion is going to have to fold I think. Too many real stories that look like farce.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Big Macs to be replaced by Big Rats? Fries extra.

[JVS]

7. suddenly the higher prices don't bug me as much

[grilled onions]

8. This would be problematic for eateries

On the one hand you have your little loin of rat all lined up for the dinner trade but on the other hand an inspector will see them and shut you down for rodent infestation!!!!!!

[slackmaster]

9. Well there's rat cake ... rat sorbet... rat pudding... or strawberry tart.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Well, it's got some rat in it ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dehAiSJHZM

[LeftinOH]

11. I suspect we're already eating a fair amount of rat 'product' already..but

its been labelled differently: high-fructose Corn syrup, my ass.
:sarcasm: