# Are dolphins red meat or white meat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636 "2003-03-23T22:45:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/1 "2003-03-23T22:45:55Z")
Since they’re mammals, so I’ve always assumed that their meat would be a lot like steak or pork, but I realized I didn’t really have conclusive evidence of this, and PETA would probably object to me looking in to it, so I thought I’d throw it out to you guys. And please: don’t tell me it tastes like chicken unless you really mean it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/2 "2003-03-23T23:25:10Z")
**Jill** did a Staff report on Manatees. Thought it might give some perspective, as they are mammals also.[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmanatee.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmanatee.html) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/3 "2003-03-23T23:53:45Z")
There is a Dolphin fish and I’m sure that it does not taste like chicken. These days it’s commonly sold under the name Mahi Mahi so folks don’t think they’re eating Flipper. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/4 "2003-03-24T00:15:23Z")
As a follow-up question: are dolphins kosher? ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/5 "2003-03-24T00:43:43Z")
Good question, Mike, but was that really an issue to the Hebrews wandering through the desert? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/6 "2003-03-24T00:45:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*As a follow-up question: are dolphins kosher? \*\* [No.](http://www.kashrus.org/kosher/kosher_fish.html) > [@](#): > > All shellfish and mammals (such as whales, and dolphins) are not kosher. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/7 "2003-03-24T00:54:28Z")
AFAIK dolphins are evolved from muti-toed hoofed mammals. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/8 "2003-03-24T00:59:11Z")
\*\* Ice Wolf \*\* cows are mammals, and I am pretty sure they are kosher, along with sheep and some other mammals. If the link means sea-going mammals, then it is correct. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/9 "2003-03-24T01:13:37Z")
Cetaceans have two to eight times as much myoglobin (the oxygen-holding pigment in muscles tissue) as terrestrial mammals; that’s why cetacean muscle is much darker than beef and other animal meats. What made you think their meat is light? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/10 "2003-03-24T01:17:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DreadCthulhu \* > \*\*\*\* Ice Wolf \*\* cows are mammals, and I am pretty sure they are kosher, along with sheep and some other mammals. If the link means sea-going mammals, then it is correct. \*\* I think, taking the page linked to in context, “Kosher Fish”, they aren’t exactly talking about swimming bovines, **DreadCthulhu**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/11 "2003-03-24T01:48:11Z")
What about Chicken of the Sea? ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/12 "2003-03-24T01:59:47Z")
I don’t know if it’s white or red meat, but tuna hasn’t been nearly as good since they’ve stoped including the dolphin caught in the nets! ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/13 "2003-03-24T02:12:35Z")
Is this about the wine you"ll be serving with the Dolphin? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/14 "2003-03-24T02:30:54Z")
Should be pretty close to the same as whales which is a deep red meat. Like this [Sashimi of Akami](http://luna.pos.to/whale/img/gen_cook_aka.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/15 "2003-03-24T02:37:49Z")
You got me, county. I was leaning towards the light Amontillado, but now I’m not so sure… ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/16 "2003-03-24T02:40:30Z")
Like **astro** says, whale meat is red. Add to that the fact that dolphin meat has been known to be [passed off](http://www.safetyfirst.gr.jp/english/newspaper/americanjournal2001jun23.html) as whale meat, and I think that’s your answer. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/17 "2003-03-24T03:17:12Z")
Back before they knew that dolphins weren’t fish they would have been forbidden as scaless fish but but now that we know exactly what they are any restriction against them could probably be lifted if someone went through the trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dolphins-red-meat-or-white-meat/163636/18 "2003-03-24T04:34:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sock Munkey \* > \*\*Back before they knew that dolphins weren’t fish they would have been forbidden as scaless fish but but now that we know exactly what they are any restriction against them could probably be lifted if someone went through the trouble. \*\* For Kosher, you mean? No, because even if you take them out of the water animal category and lump them in with land mammals, they don’t have hooves and chew their cud either.