Did You Know?: 7 Animals That Are Eaten Alive

SHRIMP

Certain shrimp dishes call for live shrimp

The dish called "drunken shrimp" is very popular in China. The shrimp are drowned in booze before they are served alive. The liquor not only makes them quite flavorful, but it also makes them just drunk enough that they don't jump out of the bowl. But just in case, a plate covers the bowl until they are served on the table.

SEA URCHINS

Sea urchins are served while alive

The needles on their backs don't make sea urchins look very inviting, but people all over the world love them for their fishy flavor. Although they can be eaten alone, most connoisseurs prefer to eat them immediately after they are added to other foods, like sushi, or right after they are cut open. It's not unusual to see a waiter bring scissors or spears with a platter of live sea urchins.

FROGS

Live frogs on the menu

The Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" has some pretty strange menus like frog sashimi. By the time it is served (raw), most of the frog is dead, so diners begin the meal by eating the frog's still-beating heart.

GRUBS AND INSECTS

Grubs are served live on survival TV shows

I knew I was going to have a problem after I started researching this piece. You have finally come to the part of this post where my personal tastes are going to be interjected into this narrative.

On reality shows like "Survivor" or "Fear Factor," there is almost always a task that involves eating something alive - and the task rarely calls for eating just one.

Even though eating raw live insects and animals is normal in many countries of the world, if you have never eaten anything raw that is still wiggling, you might have a problem completing the task.

Without a doubt, I would not survive on the TV show "Survivor." I'd be dead either from the environment or the diet (or lack of). As for trying new foods, if it didn't come in a labeled supermarket meat package and look like chicken or beef, I don't eat it.

No matter how delicious the live "food" is supposed to be, anything that is still wiggling on its way to my mouth probably won't make it inside of my mouth. I know I am not alone. There are a lot of people in this world who can't or won't eat live moving food, insects or animals.

But it's normal in certain countries, like Australia, China, and Japan.

OYSTERS

Oysters are eaten raw

Oysters on the half shell are supposed to be the healthiest when eaten raw and alive.

OCTOPUS

Live octopus is eaten raw

The Korea dish called Sannakji is a live octopus, served either cut up or whole, still sucking, grasping, wiggling and squirming on the plate. Gourmet food magazines say "diners enjoy the feeling of the still-active suction cups on the octopus' arms as they suction cups stick to the roof of their mouth and after swallowed, the octopus' attempt to climb back up their throat. Novices are advised to chew before swallowing to avoid choking."

FISH

Some fish is served with the heart still beating

In Japan, fish that are prepared for sashimi while still alive are called "ikizukuri." The fish is typically filleted without actually being killed and served while the heart is still beating and the mouth is still gasping.

Sometimes the fish is temporarily returned to an aquarium to swim around and recover for a second round.

Another dish, popular in China, is called "yin yang fish," in which the fish's body is rapidly deep-fried and served while the head is still fresh and moving. Need proof? Check out this video of a freshly served yin yang fish.

https://youtu.be/2BYPuLnAscA