# How much edible meat on a human body? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820 "2010-01-28T23:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/41 "2010-01-29T22:58:31Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > According to [this site](http://www.askthemeatman.com/yield_on_hog.htm), the yield on a 155lb whole hog is approximately 90lbs. Humans aren’t bred to maximize yield so I would say that’s your rough upper limit. That’s only the regular cuts of meat. It doesn’t include the head or feet, for example, which have meat on them and are eaten in many societies. It also doesn’t include the organ meats. So the actual amount of edible meat is considerably higher. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/42 "2010-01-29T23:06:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Does that include organ meat and offal? No. That’s how much muscle meat you get from a beef. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/43 "2010-01-30T00:04:10Z")
> [@Staver808](#): > > Is it the diet of the animal or is it something else? Homer: Lisa honey, are you saying you’re _never_ going to eat any animal again? What about bacon? Lisa: No. Homer: Ham? Lisa: No. Homer: Pork chops? Lisa: Dad! Those all come from the same animal! Homer: [Chuckles] Yeah, right Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal. Same magical animal, different flavors. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/44 "2010-01-30T00:24:33Z")
If a human cadaver sold for the same price per pound as a cow, what would be the price per pound for Homo-Steaks at your neighborhood grocery store? Would the large chains (Wall-Mary, Costco, etc. be inclined to sell for less? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/45 "2010-01-30T00:28:13Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Has there been any studies on the psychological effects on people who have had to resort to cannibalism to survive? I know we humans are pretty resilient, but I can’t imagine it being easy to bounce back from being in that kind of predicament. Yeah, it would probably be very tough. For one thing, you’d get hungry again the next day! 😃 > [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > Has anyone here tasted human meat? Tasted as in eaten or just had in my mouth? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/46 "2010-01-30T00:30:23Z")
I assume that cannibalism is illegal in the US, but what about in international waters? If someone left you their carcass in their will, is it legal to eat it? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/47 "2010-01-30T00:33:54Z")
I’m sure we’ve had threads on international waters before. IIRC you’re still subject to the laws of the country your vessel is registered in. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/48 "2010-01-30T00:54:37Z")
That’s where a “Don’t ask don’t tell” policy would come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/49 "2010-01-30T01:26:51Z")
It seems cannibalism isn’t illegal in [Germany](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/dec/04/germany.lukeharding), although murder is, and “disturbing the peace of the dead”. Oh, and pork, you ask? > [@](#): > > Meiwes told detectives that he had consumed his victim with a bottle of South African red wine, had got out his best cutlery and decorated his dinner table with candles. He tasted of pork, he added. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/50 "2010-01-30T13:58:50Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > If a human cadaver sold for the same price per pound as a cow, what would be the price per pound for Homo-Steaks at your neighborhood grocery store? Would the large chains (Wall-Mary, Costco, etc. be inclined to sell for less? Well, you gotta figure in the cost of college, so, there ya go… ---
**Author:** ![Getheren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Getheren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Getheren)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/51 "2010-01-30T14:55:35Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > If a human cadaver sold for the same price per pound as a cow, what would be the price per pound for Homo-Steaks at your neighborhood grocery store? Would the large chains (Wall-Mary, Costco, etc. be inclined to sell for less? (obligatory cheap shot) Hey, if what you want is Homo-meat, I’m quite sure there’s a bar in your area where you can get some for the price of drinks. And if you’re pretty enough, you get _bought_ the drinks into the bargain! (drum fill) ---
**Author:** ![kfraser34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kfraser34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kfraser34)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/52 "2010-01-31T16:54:01Z")
We had a really nice old man living in our building that made his own pork sausages and pepperettes… but he was a heavy smoker and the taste just permeated the meat and made it inedible… we always accepted the meat to be nice, but no one ever ate it and any time I pawned one off on a guest, they never finished it and often spit out the first bite… Because of this experience I have always held the opinion that cigarette smokers would taste horrible… Chemically processed tobacco certainly isn’t Hickory or Applewood… FWIW… DON’T EAT PEOPLE… bad habit to get into… ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/53 "2010-01-31T21:27:22Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Has there been any studies on the psychological effects on people who have had to resort to cannibalism to survive? I know we humans are pretty resilient, but I can’t imagine it being easy to bounce back from being in that kind of predicament. Here is a quote from the link in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12055387&postcount=49) post. In the words of a convicted cannibal no less: > [@](#): > > In his pre-trial interview, the cannibal said that after eating Brandes he felt much better and more stable. Of course most of us (I hope) do not share the same psychological profile as this guy, and would likely react differently. But of course you’re talking about people who were forced by circumstances to resort to cannibalism. Sounds like a rather small sample- you could do the science yourself! ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/54 "2010-02-01T01:07:49Z")
“Hey, if what you want is Homo-meat, I’m quite sure there’s a bar in your area where you can get some for the price of drinks. And if you’re pretty enough, you get bought the drinks into the bargain!” I knew it wouldn’t take long. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/55 "2010-02-01T05:13:04Z")
Do I detect an undercurrent of [vorarephilia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorarephilia) here? I know that some people at SDMB are weird, but this is making me nervous … ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/56 "2010-02-01T06:18:42Z")
> [@toodlepip](#): > > It seems cannibalism isn’t illegal in [Germany](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/dec/04/germany.lukeharding), although murder is, and “disturbing the peace of the dead”. > \ I think what toolepip is suggesting is that you get right down and go empirical on somebody’s ass (pun not originally intended, but it turned up anyway). I was trying to think of this guy’s name also, who tootlepip refers to: Armin Weiwes. For those who didn’t follow the relatively sober account in toodlepip’s [link quoted above](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/dec/04/germany.lukeharding), Weiwes was so into vorarephilia that he and another like-minded individual, Bernd Brandes–who truly deserves the most credit of getting into a fetish–made a pact: Brandes would allow Weiwes to kill him only on the condition that he, Weiwes, would eat him. A more complete report of the actual crimes, with photos of his rooms where who did what, is [here](http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/serialkillers/meiwes.htm). Juicy extracts: [Weiwes] also spoke of another e-mail pal, Andreas, from Regensburg in southern Germany. “He wanted me to pick him up in a cattle truck and slaughter him like a pig,” said Meiwes.“I told him to take the train. I picked him up at the station and we went back to the butchery at my house. He wanted me to wear rubber boots, which he licked. I wrapped him in clingfilm ready for slaughtering but he backed out. So we just fooled around, drank beer and ate pizza.” Wannabe lunch Dirk Moeller, a German conference organiser living in London, was next. Meiwes said: “He wanted me to pronounce a death sentence upon him like in a court so I got one made up from a document on the internet. He came to the house but he backed out, too. We ended up going to the pictures to watch Ocean’s Eleven.” Alex from Essen had a specific request, too—to be beheaded. Meiwes refused because he was “too fat”.And Stefan from Kassel almost made it into the pot—only to be pardoned because of the weather. He got as far as being hung up on the slaughter chamber’s meat hook, wrapped in clingfilm with labels pinned into his flesh denoting various cuts like steak, ham and bacon. Meiwes said: “We called it off because it was so damn cold in there.” [SIZE=2]He’s also on Wiki, and can be googled. I forgot to copy the Wiki address, but I have to go take a shower. [/SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/57 "2010-02-01T06:53:50Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Juicy extracts: > > [Weiwes] also spoke of another e-mail pal, Andreas, from Regensburg in southern Germany. “He wanted me to pick him up in a cattle truck and slaughter him like a pig,” said Meiwes.“I told him to take the train. I picked him up at the station and we went back to the butchery at my house. He wanted me to wear rubber boots, which he licked. I wrapped him in clingfilm ready for slaughtering but he backed out. So we just fooled around, drank beer and ate pizza.” > Wannabe lunch Dirk Moeller, a German conference organiser living in London, was next. Meiwes said: “He wanted me to pronounce a death sentence upon him like in a court so I got one made up from a document on the internet. He came to the house but he backed out, too. We ended up going to the pictures to watch Ocean’s Eleven.” > Alex from Essen had a specific request, too—to be beheaded. Meiwes refused because he was “too fat”.And Stefan from Kassel almost made it into the pot—only to be pardoned because of the weather. > He got as far as being hung up on the slaughter chamber’s meat hook, wrapped in clingfilm with labels pinned into his flesh denoting various cuts like steak, ham and bacon. Meiwes said: “We called it off because it was so damn cold in there.” Well, as murderers and cannibals go, he does seem an accommodating chap. ---
**Author:** ![Modern-caveman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@Modern-caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern-caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/58 "2010-02-01T14:59:25Z")
Are there Kosher requirements, or any particular blessing to be said? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/59 "2010-02-01T15:08:40Z")
> [@Staver808](#): > > Aside from the intestines as I wouldn’t beging to know how to clean them. This is actually fairly easy. Soak, Squeeze and flush, repeat until clean. But there isn’t much nutritive value here, it’s use is more as a storage item for processing the meat, which you probably aren’t doing, as you’re consuming it right away, not making salami. 😃 The heart and liver would be obvious offal meats that would be eaten right away, with minimal preparation needed. > [@Staver808](#): > > As a previous poster said, at this point it’s not academic and squimishness is out the window. You’re going to eat the fat. It’s food. Why throw it out. And it’s a high calorie food as well. Helpful when you’re trying to keep warm. > > So Butler1850 of the 50% of the stuff you’ve removed from the deer, how much of it would you eat if your life depended on it? Well, the percentage would go up a bit, I’d bet not more than 5% or so, if I was being uncivilized. I may be at the point of eating my fellow man (or woman, I’d bet they’d be more tender), but you have to ask yourself if you really want to be a savage about your dining experience. Just because you’re starving, doesn’t mean you don’t have time to make a proper meal. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ajdebosco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@ajdebosco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajdebosco)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820/60 "2010-02-01T15:16:32Z")
The long bones should be boiled; the marrow extract makes a very hearty stock for soup, chowder, stew, etc. The boiled out bones, as well as all the others could be ground to make a grisly meal that could be used for a coarse bread. Oh, and if anyone doesn’t know how to make a kidney pie, first you take the kidneys and boil the piss out them…😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-edible-meat-on-a-human-body/526820.md?page=4)