Leather is not edible, but natural leather that hasn’t gone through any tanning process is generally safe if consumed after properly washing and boiling.
Through years of evolution, the leather hides have shielded both animals and people from the most adverse elements of nature. Even today, leather holds a significant place in our daily lives; be it clothing, be it upholstery, be it footwear. What about leather being a food source?
Although leather is not meant to be consumed, there are historical records of cases where it has been done so out of necessity or as a means of survival. It brings about the question to certain people, is leather actually edible? Or can you eat leather for long-term survival when there’s a famine?
You’ll get all the answers to your questions regarding leather consumption in this article. Keep reading to find out!
Is Leather Edible?
No, leather is not a food item and it is not edible. Despite being made from animal skin, leather goes through a lot of processing (tanning, crusting, dyeing) that makes it hard for human consumption and digestion.
Animal skin is used for producing leather, which is then tanned to increase its tensile strength and flexibility. Moreover, it contains chemicals and dyes too, which can be toxic if consumed.
However, if you are talking about eating natural leather that is untanned, it is generally safe. Just make sure to properly wash and boil it.
Is Leather Edible If It Is Untanned?
It’s normally okay to consume natural leather that hasn’t been tanned, which doesn’t imply you should consume it. Although it’s got a considerable amount of water and protein, it doesn’t include many other nutrients.
The mineral or vegetable oil-tanned lather is also generally harmless, though it must be properly prepared before you eat it.
Can You Survive On Leather?
No, you can’t survive on leather, it can be dangerous for your health depending on the type of treatment it has undergone. However, leather that doesn’t come tanned can be consumed in order to survive in case there’s a huge food scarcity.
Historically, during great food scarcity, humans have been known to survive on leather. The leather was seen as a source of nourishment and was frequently boiled or roasted to make it more tender and appetizing.
However, eating leather is not nutritionally beneficial for a prolonged period of time in the present time. The tanning process of leather has changed with time, and at present many harsh chemicals are used which can be harmful to your body. So, it’s better to focus your efforts on discovering alternate sources of edible food if survival becomes a problem.
What Will Happen If You Eat Leather?
Even though leather may be made from animal skin, it should not be consumed because there remains no nutritional value after it’s processed, and it can cause digestive issues too.
To create leather, all flesh and fat are removed from the skin before being treated with chemicals like tanning agents. The chemicals used in the process make the leather stiff and ingestible. Moreover, a lot of chemicals are used in the coloring process as well including dyes, wetting agents, stabilizers, and fixatives, which can upset the stomach if consumed.
Besides, the physical processes used to produce leather may also incorporate impurities like dust, germs, and mold into the leather which can result in foodborne diseases if consumed.
Can Leather Be Digested If Eaten?
Although leather is not intended to be eaten as food, if you unintentionally eat a small amount of leather, it’s unlikely to cause any problem in the digestive tract, though it won’t break down or be absorbed by the body. However, eating large amounts of processed leather can cause problems in the digestive tract. Ingesting big chunks of leather could result in bowel obstruction or other health problems.
The digestion of leather is significantly affected by the type of tanning process a leather has gone through. During tanning, if chemicals like chromium salts or vegetable tannins are used, it makes the leather more challenging to break down by gastrointestinal enzymes.
Want To Eat Leather: Try Edible Fruit Leather!
Though you won’t be able to make the typical tanned leather edible, you certainly can make some edible leather at home using the fruits you’ve got around!
Fruit leathers are tasty and simple to make! Any fruit you have on hand can be pureed, seasoned, and dehydrated to create a healthy and chewy snack that everyone in your family will love!
What you’ll need:
- Any fresh fruit (mango, peaches, grapes, raspberries, plums)
- Freshly squeezed lemon/ orange juice
- Few tablespoons of honey or other sweetener(optional)
- nutmeg/ cinnamon (optional)
How To Make:
- Wash and peel the fruits and blend them into puree until smooth. Add lemon juice, sweetener, and spices and blend for some more time.
- Now put the blended mixture into a pot and cook for 10-15 minutes on medium heat, keep stirring occasionally.
- Once cooked, pour the puree into a thin layer on a baking sheet ( avoid using foil as the puree will stick) and slowly bake in the oven at 140°F for about 8 hours. The leather will be slightly glossy and non-sticky to the touch once they have dried.
- Gently separate the fruit leather from the baking sheet once it has cooled.
- Cut into strips and roll to serve!
Final Thoughts
As we take a look into the pros and cons of consuming leather we have discussed so far, we can say that not consuming leather is a wiser decision.
If you are adamant about it, when it comes to eating leather, there are several factors you have to take into account. One of these is the leather’s treatment, as the processes used recently often make leather inedible. And the other is that you have to make sure the leather is thoroughly cleaner and boiled to remove any bacteria and make it chewable.
It’s much better to look for an alternative protein source than eating the;leather of nearly zero nutritional value.