Title: Brains and Other Variety Meats - Background Info
Categories: Meat Meat Info
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At one time, "organ meats" were a popular, inexpensive way to add a little variety to the American diet. Every major cookbook contained at least a few recipes for each common item: Liver, heart, brains, sweetbreads, kidney, and tongue. Even as late as the 1960's, mass-market comprehensive cookbooks had entire sections devoted to the proper ways to prepare innards. Brains and sweetbreads were particularly prized, and in the early part of the 20th century were even served for breakfast (usually in a seasoned white sauce, over toast points.)

At some time during the 1970's, though, tastes in America began to change. Greater emphasis was being placed on lighter flavors and textures and shorter preparation times, and both these factors worked against variety meats with their strong taste and often time-consuming prep work. As links between cardiac health and cholesterol became evident, organ meats became even less popular because of their astronomically high cholesterol levels.

There were deep cultural reasons for the change, too. Since the end of WWII, America's economy had shifted from agrarian to industrial, and in the late 70's was still in transition. With fewer people living close to their food supply and more meats coming to market in cryovac packages instead of as carcasses, consumers gradually lost the ability to recognize variety meats as tasty food. Although liver still enjoyed some popularity, no variety meat plummeted from favor as fast and as sharply as brains, which after all, looks like brains no matter how it's packaged. Meanwhile Europeans, with their greater respect for tradition and without the squeamish tendencies of Americans, continued to demand more organ meats than their domestic market could supply. American meat processors were quick to step in.

This has led to an annoying Catch-22 for Americans who enjoy organ meats. Fewer Americans are exposed to them, or have the opportunity to try them, because most of the US output is shipped for overseas consumption, artificially depressing the demand. Meanwhile, because of low demand, many American markets won't carry them - freeing up more for shipping overseas....

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