7
$\begingroup$

Blood is removed from meat before it is consumed. Below is, for example, how chickens are processed from Wikipedia.

  1. Removed from transport cages
  2. Hung by the legs on a shackle, mounted on a conveyor chain.
  3. Stunned using an electrically charged water bath
  4. Killed by cutting the blood vessels in the neck
  5. Bled so that most blood has left the carcass
  6. Scalded to soften the attachment of the feathers
  7. Plucked to remove the feathers
  8. Head removed
  9. Hock cutting to remove the feet
  10. Rehung in the evisceration room
  11. Gutted or eviscerated to remove the internal organs
  12. Washed to remove blood and soiling from the carcass
  13. Chilled to prevent bacterial spoiling

Why is the blood removed? Does it just simply taste bad? This might be a stupid question but being vegetarian, I may not know.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ we find in the Bible a command not to eat blood and to drain it before eating flesh. This practice may have its roots there. $\endgroup$
    – One Face
    Feb 23, 2015 at 15:06
  • $\begingroup$ Just a guess: blood may contain active immunological modulators and endocrine molecules. But this may be just a general practice because blood is consumed as food. $\endgroup$
    – WYSIWYG
    Feb 26, 2015 at 8:52
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about processing of food. Changing the pitch of the question may help. $\endgroup$
    – AliceD ♦
    Feb 26, 2015 at 9:27

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
0
$\begingroup$

Blood finds use in many different dishes as well as biotechnological applications. Research-grade BSA (bovine serum albumin) is derived from cow's blood, there are not special facilities, same cows go for steaks and car seats. So part answer is economical: blood can be processed further. Also it is just easier not trying to preserve liquid inside vessel already opened by slitting the throat. It also seems that blood can rot faster than other tissues, maybe, because in dead animal immune responses are deteriorated and every infection in blood will activate.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Can you add some references, especially for your last sentence? $\endgroup$
    – MattDMo
    Feb 23, 2015 at 5:31
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I will try to add some reference, but my guess is that bacteria can travel faster in liquid, rather then in tissue through extracellular matrix. $\endgroup$
    – aaaaa says reinstate Monica
    Feb 23, 2015 at 6:06
  • $\begingroup$ Right, it's your guess, which is why I asked for references. $\endgroup$
    – MattDMo
    Feb 23, 2015 at 6:08
  • $\begingroup$ I wouldn't have thought it was to do with rotting, but clotting. $\endgroup$
    – UKMonkey
    Jun 12, 2017 at 15:13
-1
$\begingroup$

I found a forensic article that states the following:

Because the protective agencies of the body are absent, the bacteria spread through the blood vessels using the proteins and carbohydrates of the blood as culture media.

I was unable to find anything more on this with my limited searching skill, though I plied it to the best.

There was an interesting study on the relation between decompostion of animal meat and the bacterial load though. It was a good read!

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Please cite the reason for downvote, so that I can improve the answer. $\endgroup$
    – One Face
    Feb 24, 2015 at 10:40

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .