# Are tumors edible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 26, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594 "2010-08-26T22:19:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594/41 "2010-08-29T13:56:00Z")

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> [@KarlGrenze](#):
>
> > [@scarbrow](#):
> >
> > But there are other organs we eat that do get cancer. Liver and Kidney are the first that come to mind. Would a tumor in those organs taste like the original organs? Are these common enough in any animal that we eat to even find out?
> 
> Any tumor big enough to be detected by eye is most likely getting that organ condemned (and maybe other organs too).
> 
> Big tumors have necrotic (dead), putrefying centers. Or they may have chunky, calcified areas (that were once dead putrefying centers). I don’t see the appeal in that.

However, because it is not naturally obtained, what about Pâté de foie gras?

> **[Foie gras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_gras)**
>
> Foie gras (lit. 'fat liver'; .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}French: \[fwa ɡʁɑ\] ⓘ, English: /ˌfwɑːˈɡrɑː/ ⓘ) is a specialty food product made of the liver of a duck or goose. According to French law, foie gras is defined as the liver of a duck or goose fattened by gavage (force feeding).
> Foie gras is a delicacy in French cuisine. I...

The result is tasty, but clearly big enough to be detected and not natural due to the force feeding procedure.

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**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594/42 "2010-08-29T15:01:43Z")

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> [@BrotherCadfael](#):
>
> Where’s Leonard Betts when you need him?

You have something I need.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594/43 "2010-08-29T19:12:27Z")

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I’ve heard of tumors having teeth and hair and even eyes sometimes – is that true? (If so, that would DEFINITELY render them inedible!)

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**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tumors-edible/551594/44 "2010-08-29T19:56:31Z")

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> [@GIGObuster](#):
>
> > [@KarlGrenze](#):
> >
> > Any tumor big enough to be detected by eye is most likely getting that organ condemned (and maybe other organs too).
> > 
> > Big tumors have necrotic (dead), putrefying centers. Or they may have chunky, calcified areas (that were once dead putrefying centers). I don’t see the appeal in that.
> 
> However, because it is not naturally obtained, what about Pâté de foie gras?
> 
> [Foie gras - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_gras)
> 
> The result is tasty, but clearly big enough to be detected and not natural due to the force feeding procedure.

But that is not a tumor. Liver degeneration due to fat accumulation is not the same as if that liver had developed hepatocellular carcinoma.

And Guin, yes… Teratomas are tumors arising from germ cells that have not even differentiated and can easily transform to different tissues… or at least attempt to replicate those tissues.

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