8 Meats That Are Illegal To BBQ In Utah

Springtime is in full force in Utah, and you'll soon be having a BBQ in your back yard. You've probably got your grill ready, cold drink in your hand, and you're dreaming of grilling something truly unique! Maybe even exotic! However, before you go all in on this WEIRD MEAT fantasy, there's some meats that you absolutely cannot grill in Utah!

1. Horse Meat

Horse meat actually has a fancy name, and it's called "Chevaline." Apparently Horse Meat is totally normal in France, Japan, and Quebec, but NOT in Utah! It's technically a federal crime to eat horse meat, so good luck finding any! So, yeah... Your Kentucky Derby themed BBQ this year wont be as authentic!

2. Wild Abalone

Abalone is that little sea snail that apparently tastes like butter, but costs as much as gold. But in the US, wild abalone is pretty much the unicorn of seafood! After years of overfishing and damage to the environment, it's now led to commercial and recreational bans.

3. Owl Meat

Maybe the scariest bird of all time is the Owl. But these terrifying birds are federally protected under the Migartory Bird Act Treaty of 1918. The means it's illegal to catch, kill, or even possess a feather without a permit! If you roast an owl, you could see yourself in an orange jumpsuit.

4. Sea Turtle Meat

Apparently Turtle Soup used to be the RAGE back in the day, but those days are over! All sea turtle species are now protected under the Endangered Species Act. So unless your BBQ includes leaving in handcuffs, step away from the turtle meat please!

5. Animal Lungs (Yes, Lungs)

This one is maybe the weirdest on the list, but lung meat is banned in the US thanks to the USDA decision from 1971. The reason is: lungs might contain "airborne contaminants." That means no haggis with real lungs, or Chinese lung slices. If for some reason you're craving some lungs... get some help, man!

6. Robin Meat

Those cute, little, orange-breasted, chirpy bird is adorable! Even early settlers used to make Robin Pie! But, now in the 21st Century, Robins (like Owls) are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

7. Whale Meat

We've all seen Free Willy, and we've all thought the same thing... Man, I wanna eat Willy! Okay, maybe not. But Whale meat is actually a hard NO in the US. Commercial whaling was actually banned in the mid 1980's, and only certain indigenous communities are even allowed to hunt whales. So no, legally, you can't throw a giant whale steak on your grill next weekend!

8. Dog Meat

The idea of eating dog meat is disgusting to me... But why? What's the difference in eating a chicken, pig, or cow, vs. eating a dog? I don't know, but it just seems messed up. Congress actually agreed with that. They made it officially illegal to slaughter OR CONSUME dog or cat meat in 2018! Don't be a weirdo this spring or summer! Keep the dog meat away from the BBQ.

Get our free mobile app