DW: Mountain Oysters part deux?
A German butcher is tackling the country’s raccoon overpopulation in a unique way: by turning them into sausages and other meat products. Michael Reiss, developed the idea after realizing that raccoons, typically discarded after being killed as pests, could be processed into food. With approval from local officials, Reiss began producing “raccoon balls,” which debuted successfully at a food fair and have since become a popular item in his meat shop, Wildererhütte.
Reiss’s offerings now include seven raccoon-based products, including salami. “People come from all over just to try raccoon,” he said, adding that the flavor is familiar, though “slightly softer than other meats.” Reiss claims that his efforts help manage the estimated 2 million raccoons in Germany, which are an invasive species.
Reiss sees his business as a smart response to the raccoon issue. He notes that his products are not only a novelty but also provide an original way to address the environmental impact of raccoons in Germany.
Source: CNN