10) Frogs Legs

Frogs' legs are one of the better-known delicacies of French and Cantonese cuisine. They are also eaten in other regions, such as Indonesia, Thailand,Vietnam, the Caribbean, the region ofAlentejo in Portugal, Slovenia, northwestGreece, the Piemonte region in Italy,Spain, and the Midwest southern regions of the United States. A type of frog called the edible frog is most often used for this dish. Frog legs are rich in protein,omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin a andpotassium.^[1] They are often said to taste like chicken^[2] because of their mild flavor, with a texture most similar tochicken wings.^[3] Frogs are raised commercially in certain countries, e.g. Vietnam. Frog muscle does not resolve rigor mortis as quickly as warm-blooded muscle (chicken, for example), so heat from cooking can cause fresh frog legs to twitch.

Each year about $40m worth of frogs legs are traded internationally, with most countries in the world participating in this trade.^[4] The world's top importers of frogs legs are France, Belgium and the United States, while the biggest international exporters are Indonesia, China and Belgium.^[4]While these figures don't account for domestic consumption, when production from frog farms is taken into account, it is conservatively estimated believed that we consume up to 3.2 billion frogs for food around the world each year.^[4]

Movement of live or unfrozen, unskinned amphibians is one potential way in which deadly amphibian diseases such asBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Ranavirus may be transported around the world, and despite recommendations on preventing disease spread from the OIE, which regulates the international spread of epizootic diseases,^[5] few countries have adopted these recommendations as law.

Environment activist urged the restriction on frog consumption — especially frogs harvested from the wild — because frog population is an essential element of ecosystem. Conservationists warned that frogs could be going the same way as the cod, gastronomic demand is depleting regional populations to the point of no return.^[6] Like most of amphibians, frog with its thin and moist skin is sensitive to environmental changes and pollution. The population of amphibian is threaten and declining globally due to habitat degradation, environmental destruction and pollution.

Religious

According to Jewish dietary laws, all kinds of reptiles including amphibians are considered unclean animals. Frog legs is non-kosher food and forbidden to be consumed by Jewish people.

Frog meat is considered as haraam (non-halal) meat according to mainstream Islamic dietary laws. Frog meat fell under non-halal category on two prepositions; the meat to be consumed should not considered disgusting, and frog together with ant, bee, and sea birds are the animals that should not be killed by muslims. This frog legs haraam status had sparked the controversy in Demak, Indonesia, where the official authority urged the swikee restaurant owners not to associate swikee with Demak city, since it will tarnish Demak image as the first Islamic city in Java, and also opposed by its inhabitants that mainly follow Safii school that forbade the consumption of frog.^[7] Within Islamic dietary law there is some debates and differences about the consumption of frog legs. The mainstream Islamic madhhab (school) of Safii, Hanafi and Hanbali strictly forbid the consumption of frog, however according to the school Maliki consuming frog is allowed only on certain type of frogs;^[8]the green frog commonly found in ricefields, while other species especially with blistered skin is considered poisonous, unclean and disgusting and should not be consumed.

United States

Frog legs are eaten in parts of the Southern United States, particularly South and Central Florida. They are commonly eaten in the state of Louisiana. The most common kinds of frogs eaten are bullfrogsand leopard frogs as these are abundant in most of the country, including the South.

Some methods of cooking include egg/cracker crumb breading. They are either fried or grilled. Deep fried frog legs can also be found at fairs. Other methods brought to America by Tuscan Italians (circa 1900) were to add the frog legs to a pot of tomato stew for spreading over pasta.