There are many foods that we no longer eat, but because we choose to, not because they have disappeared from nature. In fact, here is a list of 21 Once-Popular Foods That We All Stopped Eating, including:
- Kool-Aid
- Margarine
- Pudding Pops
- Candy Cigarettes
- etc.
But today, we’re going to talk about a food that I personally love, but that I’ve always viewed as a bit of luxury – crab legs – that is in danger of disappearing off the face of the planet due to climate change and human effects. And we’re not just talking about King Crab, but we’re also talking about Snow Crab, and we’re talking about Dungeness Crab too. And this is a catastrophe not just for diners, but to an entire industry and the livelihood of too many families to count:
- 2022-2023 King Crab fishing season will officially be closed in the Bering Sea for the second year in a row
- Alaskan Snow Crab Season Canceled After 90% Of Population Disappears
- Dungeness crab die-off underway along US West Coast
That’s more than a BILLION CRABS that none of us have had the pleasure of their deliciousness.
And given the magnitude of the die off, it is possible they might disappear completely, meaning we can’t enjoy and salivate at the thought of this popular commercial from the 80’s:
Climate change and global warming are real. If you don’t believe humans are the cause, that it’s naturally occurring, fine, it’s still happening.
There can be no debate other than surrounding the actions we take from this point forward.
And while the magnitude of the devastation of other animal species that humans are responsible for is debatable, we are failing in our duties as caretakers of the earth.
This brings me back to the title of the post and the missions of this blog – to promote human-centered change and innovation.
Because we have killed off one of our very tastiest treats (King, Snow and Dungeness Crabs), at least in the short-term (and possibly forever), there is a huge opportunity to do better than krab sticks or the Krabby Patties of SpongeBob SquarePants fame.
If crab legs are going to disappear from the menus of seafood restaurants across the United States, and possibly the world, can someone invent a tasty treat that equals or exceeds the satisfaction of wielding a crab cracker and a crab fork and extracting the white gold within to dip into some sweet and slippery lemon butter?
Who is going to be first to crack this problem?
Or who will be the first to find a way to bring the crabs back from extinction?
We’re not just talking about a food to fill our bellies with, we’re talking about a pleasurable dining experience that is going away – that I know someone can save!
And no Air Protein marketing gimmicks please!
Image credit: Northsea.sg
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