But eating our national animal isn't unique to Australia. Setting aside debates on wildlife conservation, we're just one of the nearly 200 countries that eat their national icons. We've even doubled up and added emu to our menus too.
It's often said that Australians are the only people who eat the animal on their coat of arms. While Australia is not alone—Danes eats swans, and Saudi Arabians love a bit of camel—there is something particularly interesting about the casualness with which Aussies both consume and wear their mascot.
Kangaroo is a gamey meat, and some foodies even prefer it to lamb and steak for its tenderness and taste. It tends to be a stronger flavour than beef or lamb, and even though it is a very lean meat, it's not tough like venison can sometimes be.
Many Australian restaurants serve Kangaroo meat. Kangaroo meat has been exported since 1959. Seventy percent of Kangaroo meat is exported, particularly to the European market: Germany and France.
Koalas, like the platypus and echidna, are a protected native Australian animal, and harming or killing them could bring you a hefty fine or time in jail. So no, you can't eat koalas.
But some people can't get past the idea that kangaroos are cute. Australia is not the only country to eat its national emblem – elk is eaten in Sweden, carp in Japan – but for an increasingly urban population, it can be a hard sell.
In 1974 the (then) three commercially shot kangaroo species were listed as threatened on the US Endangered Species Act. [1] The US Fish and Wildlife Service banned the importation of those species in the same year.
Kangaroo is a lean meat with less than 2% fat, making it a healthier red meat option. It is also high in protein, essential B vitamins, minerals such as zinc, iron and omega 3 fats and omega 6 fatty acids. Compared to beef, kangaroo contains double the amount of iron and triple that of chicken and pork.
For example, in Australia, it is legal to eat kangaroo. It's even served on the menu at some restaurants there. But if you're not an Aussie and are instead visiting from another country (like the United States), then things might be a bit different for you.
China is the biggest consumer of dog meat globally, consuming an estimated 10 million dogs (and four million cats) per year. Dog meat has been a tradition in China for thousands of years and is still eaten in many regions of the country.
Eating guinea pig is an ancient tradition in many different parts of South America. In Peru alone, around 65 million guinea pigs are eaten every year.
Hunted for meat and for sport, and used as a motif in the decorative arts, the kangaroo was finally recognised as an official symbol of Australia when it was included on the nation's coat of arms in 1908.
The lion (red on yellow background) is the symbol of Scotland. Three lions are the symbol for England. It has nothing to do with 'Britishness' or British characteristics, as Britishness did not exist as a concept when these badges were adopted. Other medieval kingdoms had similar badges.
So what is the healthiest meat? Kangaroo is technically the healthiest it has the lowest amount of Kilojules per serving. If you're not into kangaroo, some other options are- Fish with a low level of mercury, an extra trim eye fillet steak, chicken breast, pork fillet.
The Australian Government has banned the importation of meat products for personal use from all countries with foot and mouth disease. The Australian Government has banned the importation of meat products for personal use from all countries with foot and mouth disease (FMD).
In Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, kangaroo is considered 'game meat' and therefore can also be permitted as 'meat' but it is required that the kangaroo be culled and processed in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales or Tasmania, in accordance with the relevant State's ...
Kangaroo meat is sold in some European supermarkets or used in pet food. Europe is the top destination for kangaroo meat, with Belgium being the number one country with about a third of the total kangaroo meat imports in 2019. The EU does not have legislation on animal welfare requirements for wild animals in the wild.
India. India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world but it's worth pointing out that it is not some kind of vegetarian utopia. Young people are eating more meat, and there are areas in the country where vegetarians are in the minority. That said, India is a great place to go for vegetarian food.
Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Tajikistan only have a fish consumption of less than 1 kilogram per year. Image: Statista. What is the World Economic Forum doing to help ensure global food security?
The world's largest consumers of meat per capita? Hong Kong, Iceland, and Macao have the highest total meat consumption, all above 170 kg (370 lbs) per capita.