# Is cannibalism illegal in and of itself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163 "2003-01-02T05:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ersatz_Shmoe)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/1 "2003-01-02T05:30:32Z")
A sick friend and I have a no-bet riding on this. Are there any laws, U.S. or otherwise, that specifically outlaw eating another human being (assuming, of course, that said person was not killed specifically for eating and that all other matters involved were above board)? I read somewhere that a few years ago, a couple ate the wife’s placenta after she gave birth. I don’t recall whether any laws were broken in that instance or not, although it would seem to me that the organ could reasonably be considered her property. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/2 "2003-01-02T06:05:56Z")
It is in Colorado, at least. The only person in the US ever convicted of cannibalism was there. His name was [Alfred Packer](http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html). The creators of South Park made a musical about him entitled _Cannibal! The Musical_. ---
**Author:** ![Mann\_Slaughter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Mann\_Slaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mann_Slaughter)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/3 "2003-01-02T06:09:08Z")
I believe that most areas have laws against what’s typically referred to as “abuse of a corpse”. This covers a lot of ground, but it’s a misdemeanor, and generally used against people that can’t be charged with actually having PRODUCED the corpse. Some people in N.E. Ohio that have been charged with this: Young ladies who gave birth to stillborn babies in secret which they procede to drop in the nearest dumpster, or bury in the park. A man who’s mother died at home. He simply stored away in her bedroom. A man who was actually charged with a young lady’s strangulation death, but had the “a.o.a.c” charge added after he stored her body in the trunk of a car, which he left parked on the street. I think that eating the arm of a dead person who you just happened across during your morning jog might net you some charges. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/4 "2003-01-02T06:14:23Z")
Illegal, sure. Delicious, _ **you bet** _! ---
**Author:** ![Ginger\_Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@Ginger\_Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ginger_Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/5 "2003-01-02T08:44:46Z")
You’d think butchering would be the problem though, it isn’t… it’s storage. It can spoil in a matter of a few hours if your packages aren’t sealed correctly. And forget fava beans and a nice ciante… ALWAYS marinate (I can’t stress that enough) slap it on the grill, cook it until the internal temp is 140F then top with a nice mushroom sauce and caramelized onions. YUMMY!! If it’s legal or not is another story… it depends on the region your in… I suppose. Of course… I AM a Roosevelt Elk… ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/6 "2003-01-02T11:29:56Z")
The secret’s in the sauce. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/7 "2003-01-02T14:18:01Z")
I believe placenta eating, which is a form of cannabalism is allowed in many places in the United States. Don’t know about corpse eating. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/8 "2003-01-02T14:22:03Z")
There are very strict rules about disposal and use of human corpses… I’m sure eating one would be one of the more difficult things to do legally. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/9 "2003-01-02T15:13:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Daoloth \* > **It is in Colorado, at least. The only person in the US ever convicted of cannibalism was there. His name was [Alfred Packer](http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html).** It’s pretty clear that Packer actually murdered at least some of the men he ate, so there was plenty to charge him with regardless of his preferred cosmestibles. I haven’t studied the question, but like other posters I imagine it’d be covered under laws requiring the proper handling of human remains. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/10 "2003-01-02T15:33:44Z")
Hm. Is placenta eating cannibalism? I doubt it, since the donor is alive. Otherwise biting your nails would be cannibalism. On the other hand, would eating a severed limb be cannibalism, even if the donor were alive? I suppose. I guess if you can remove it from the person without trauma, it’s not cannibalism. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/11 "2003-01-02T16:14:08Z")
If your looking to open a restaurant, I’d say Idaho is out: Idaho Code Title 18. Crimes and Punishments Chapter 50. Mayhem Section 18-5003 Cannibalism defined – Punishment. > [@](#): > > (1) Any person who wilfully ingests the flesh or blood of a human being is guilty of cannibalism. > (2) It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of the provisions of this section that the action was taken under extreme life-threatening conditions as the only apparent means of survival. > (3) Cannibalism is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding fourteen (14) years. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/12 "2003-01-02T17:32:13Z")
Packer was convicted of murder and manslaughter, not cannibalism- [http://www.museumtrail.org/AlferdPacker.asp](http://www.museumtrail.org/AlferdPacker.asp) The Alferd Packer Grill at University of Colorado, Boulder, is a great place to chow down! But they had to stop having Packer Days, a kind of sick Spirit Week where students would compete by eating… questionable… things! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/13 "2003-01-02T17:34:13Z")
Here is a copy of the death sentence- [http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html#judge](http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html#judge) And some other interesting Packet info- [http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html](http://www.archives.state.co.us/packer.html) ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/14 "2003-01-02T21:21:18Z")
Messed-up cannibal news from [Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird](http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/index.html): > [@](#): > > Creme de la Weird > > In a still-unfolding story from Kassel, Germany, a man identified only as Armin M., 41, gave police a videotape in December showing him killing a 42-year-old companion who had answered Armin’s Internet ad reading, “Gay male seeks hunks 18-30 to slaughter.” Armin allegedly admitted that he is a cannibal and that he froze parts of the victim’s body for later meals. According to police, the victim (an upscale professional) had methodically put his financial records in order before leaving his Berlin home to meet Armin, and according to one newspaper, the men are shown on tape eating the victim’s penis, after he consented to castration. Armin also reportedly told police that he would never eat a woman because “they are too important for the survival of mankind.” Stunned police investigators reportedly had to undergo psychiatric counseling after viewing the tape. [Reuters, 12-12-02; Sydney Morning Herald-Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 12-14-02; Agence France-Presse, 12-17-02] This may also bring to and end the great “Snuff Film” debate. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/15 "2003-01-02T21:56:38Z")
Cecil has discussed [eating placenta](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_104.html). ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/16 "2003-01-02T22:48:52Z")
What about auto-cannibalism? (And I ain’t talking about accidently swallowing a fingernail you just chewed off). What about involuntary cannibalism (Donner-esque or otherwise)? What about bulimic cannibals, who don’t actually digest anything? What if, to skirt the “a.o.a.c.” laws, the victim is consumed alive? What about consumption of a shark or bear or something which had recently eaten a person? What about consumption of transgenic animals expressing 1 human gene? 100 human genes? 1000 human genes? There are so many grey areas! …and this is sick, sick, sick!! ---
**Author:** ![psychomonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@psychomonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychomonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cannibalism-illegal-in-and-of-itself/146163/17 "2003-01-02T22:49:54Z")
This very subject was discussed not long ago. I feel obliged to [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=150501)