Reuters reports that Sorawut Kittibanthorn, a Thai national studying in London "was looking for new types of waste to recycle" when he was suddenly "drawn to the millions of tons of chicken feathers being discarded each year."
Okay, I might have zeroed in on discarded water bottles or plastic shopping bags. But chicken feathers? What's he going to do with them? Now, I'm thinking pillows or… well, beyond pillows I've got nothin'.
But not Kittibanthorn. He thinks … let's eat the feathers!
Ummm, "Pass the poultry-waste, please," said no one ever.
But actually, Kittibanthorn says that "wasted" chicken feathers contain a good deal of protein. So he's been experimenting with how he can convert them into a protein-rich, edible food source.
"Chicken feather contains protein and if we are able to serve this protein to others in the world, the demand from everyone... will help reduce waste," Sorawut told Reuters.
Wait, aren't the "real" chicken nuggets already made from poultry-waste?
A 2013 study published by The American Journal of Medicine (via NPR) found that many commercially sold chicken nuggets contained only about 50 percent meant [sic]. The rest of the contents was a hodgepodge of (try not to gag) "ground up bone, blood vessels, nerve, and connective tissue." - Mashed.com
But why stop with bone, blood vessels, and connective tissue? Kittibanthorn's working on a chicken feather powder that can be stirred into gravies or molded into chicken feather nuggets or fake steak.
What is it with everyone wanting to make fake chicken nuggets anyway?
So, let's not be too skeptical until we hear how his protein-rich, poultry waste lays on the palate:
"You know the texture is very complex and advanced [code words for feels weird in your mouth!]. It's something you wouldn't imagine that chicken feathers will be able to improvise into this kind of dish," said food blogger Cholrapee Asvinvichit, after tucking [it] into ‘steak' served with gravy, mashed potatoes and a salad [you're right, we can't imagine]. "I really could imagine this [being served] to me in some like, Michelin star [restaurant], or some fine dining experience" [there ya go with the imagining again!].
Waste not, want not.
