As a consumer, would you ever be hungry enough to consume a squirrel? After reading a New York Times article about squirrels scurrying their way onto British dining tables, I emailed the Food Standards Agency — an independent Government department responsible for food safety and food hygiene across the United Kingdom — to investigate further…

Dear Enforcers of Food Standards for the United Kingdom:

I’ve been reading about Squirrel becoming a popular dining favorite in Britain. From what I hear, everyone from butcher shops and pubs to fine restaurants are serving it and people can’t seem to keep their claws off it.

Eating squirrel hasn’t quite caught on yet as a widespread menu item in America. Do you know of any differences between U.S. and U.K. squirrels, other than accent, that might account for this? What does squirrel taste like? Please be more specific than chicken.

What food standards have you put in place regarding eating squirrels? I understand that they have to be shot in the head because if they’re shot in the body you can’t eat them since the part you were going to eat is blown apart by a bullet. Is allowing people to shoot the cute little critters in the head one of the Food Standards your organization has put in place for ultimate squirrel deliciousness?

How many of the bushy-tail critters do you estimate Brits are eating as a main course over the course of a year? Do you think Squirrel & Chips will ever become as popular as Fish & Chips?

A Representative from the Meat Hygiene & TSE Policy Branch, Hygiene & Microbiology Division emailed back with:

Thank you for your email of 16 February about consumption of squirrels. As you will see from the article in the Guardian newspaper at the following link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/squirrel-meat-supermarket

the supply of squirrel for human consumption is governed by hygiene legislation that applies to wild game.

For more information about squirrel consumption you could contact the Wild Meat Company at:

http://www.wildmeat.co.uk/squirrel_meat.htm?ac=HXN5N-U

Final Thoughts: It was kind of the Food Standards Agency to provide this information. However, even though they say squirrel for human consumption is governed by hygiene legislation that applies to wild game, this game is a little too wild for me. Personally, I’m a fish, chicken and pasta kind of guy and Cedar Plank Squirrel or Squirrel Parmesan with a side of Squirrel Hair Marinara doesn’t seem to be making my mouth water.

According to the New York Times piece Saving a Squirrel by Eating One, millions of squirrels are rampaging throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The North American gray squirrel has also been invading the beloved British red squirrel’s turf. To retaliate, the British are now sending all of their television hosts to invade America’s living rooms. One Save Our Squirrels campaign slogan to help rescue the British red squirrel was “Save a red, eat a gray!” This helped create a market for culled squirrel meat. Further research will need to be conducted to determine whether flying squirrels have an advantage over squirrels that can’t fly in escaping being culled or cooked.

If you would like to learn more about food safety protection in the United Kingdom, start with the Food Standards Agency. Although, if a service provider is doing anything you feel is squirrely, one way to start protecting yourself is to Write The Company.

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