Why do Humans eat herbivores and omnivores?

Humans all around the world regularly eat: chickens, cows, pigs, deer, rabbits etc. Humans basically only dine on herbivores and omnivores. Why is that? Why don't humans eat other carnivores?

It's true that the majority of the animals humans consume as food are herbivores or omnivores themselves. The avoidance of carnivores as a food source indeed presents several intriguing possibilities, each with its own set of factors and considerations. This is largely due to cultural, ethical, and practical reasons.

From a cultural perspective, many societies have historically favored herbivores and omnivores as food sources. This preference may be influenced by factors such as religious beliefs, traditional dietary practices, and availability of certain types of animals for domestication and farming.

From an ethical standpoint, there are concerns about the welfare of animals raised for food. Herbivores and omnivores are often perceived as having lower levels of sentience or intelligence compared to carnivores, which may influence attitudes towards their consumption.

Practically speaking, herbivores and omnivores tend to be more efficient sources of protein and other nutrients compared to carnivores. They are often easier to raise, feed, and manage in agricultural settings, making them more accessible and economical for human consumption.

There's the issue of safety. Carnivores, as they consume other animals, can accumulate potential parasites, microbes, and heavy metals. When humans consume carnivores, they might ingest these harmful substances, which could pose health risks. While some animal-eating species may contain high levels of certain harmful substances, there isn't clear evidence that this is universally applicable to humans consuming carnivores.

Another hypothesis revolves around the taste. It's suggested that carnivore meat might not be particularly palatable due to factors like texture and flavor. Carnivores tend to be leaner and have tougher meat compared to herbivores, which might not align with human preferences for juicier and more tender meat. If carnivore meat was risky to consume, we would have evolved a distake for it. We’ve evolved to dislike bitter foods. Additionally, the diet of carnivores could influence the taste of their meat, potentially resulting in less appealing flavors.

However, this taste hypothesis isn't universally applicable. Some fish species, which are carnivorous, are still considered delicious, challenging the notion that all carnivore meat is unappealing.

A significant factor contributing to the avoidance of carnivores as a food source is inefficiency. Raising carnivores for meat production is not as practical or efficient as raising herbivores. Carnivores require large amounts of energy to sustain themselves, and a considerable portion of the energy they consume goes towards their own maintenance rather than building body mass. As a result, the conversion of plant-based calories into meat calories is much less efficient when it involves carnivores.

Religious and cultural factors also play a role in the avoidance of carnivores as food. Judaism does not allow the eating of predators and some common animals are deemed “unclean” such as: pigs, camels, hares and insects. Islam bars eating animals with fangs or talons. This discounts lots of animals that eat. These religious prohibitions could have originated from concerns about safety or hygiene associated with consuming carnivores, but they have since become ingrained in cultural dietary practices.

Overall, the reasons behind the avoidance of carnivores as a food source are multifaceted and complex, encompassing factors related to safety, taste, efficiency, and cultural beliefs. While there isn't a definitive answer to why humans choose certain animals as food while avoiding others, exploring these hypotheses provides insight into the intricacies of human dietary choices.

In this conundrum it’s complicated. We don’t have a solid answer for why we prefer chickens and cows, but avoid polar bears, tigers and eagles. But this question is good food for thought.