Pigeons: cuisine of the future?
Pigeons are one of the “meats of the future” mentioned in this piece on Discover Magazine’s website by Emily Anthes. She makes the point that environmental concerns may lead us to look for meat in new places, specifically species that are often considered vermin or invasive pests. Personally, I think pigeons are the most appetizing choice from this list. And unlike insects, rats, and squirrels, pigeons have a long history in our cuisine already and feature as a delicacy in dishes around the world. In the U.S. we’ve managed to forget a lot of this history as we’ve become accustomed to see the birds as urban pests. Pigeons lend themselves to local, backyard farming–it’s how they used to be kept. So it makes sense to turn to pigeons as an alternative to industrial farmed poultry.
February 28th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Your book does not answer a couple of important questions:
Are city pigeons or their nests and excrement really a human health hazzard. How much?
Can one safely eat city pigeons? Do they actually carry human diseases? How can you safely prepare them? My veterinarian friends assure me that pigeons, and city geese, ducks and swans would be dangerous to eat. Is there any real info? My friends are vegetarian bunny huggers. Chicken skin is also supposed to have more germs than anything else we eat. My mother-in-law in rural Bavaria kept a pigeon house in the attic, and would grab a few for dinner when special guests came. I occasionally eat pigeon in Italy.
February 28th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Hi Tom,
My understanding is that pigeons can pass along a couple of pathogens to people that could be harmful to health in those with compromised immune systems (like the elderly or people with some other illness or disease). In most day-to-day interactions with pigeons, this isn’t really a problem. It’s more of a concern if you are coming in very close contact with the pigeons and their dung. As far as eating city pigeons (or other city animals), the health issue is not disease but the levels of lead and other toxic chemicals they may have in their bodies from living in a polluted environment. I mention this issue briefly in this piece: http://www.gourmet.com/food/2008/09/eating-pigeons. That’s why it’s best to eat farm-raised pigeons living in a more controlled environment. Hope that helps! — Courtney