Now, let’s get real for a moment, because I promised humor, but this is also a public service announcement. Illegal bushmeat can carry diseases like Ebola, anthrax, and something called “simian foamy virus,” which sounds like a cocktail you’d order at a tropical bar but is actually no laughing matter. The World Health Organization has linked bushmeat consumption to zoonotic diseases—the kind that jump from animals to humans. Remember COVID-19? Yeah, bushmeat markets were part of that conversation.
So, when the Met seizes 11kg of mystery meat, they’re not just ruining someone’s weekend barbecue. They’re potentially saving you from a hospital trip where the doctor says, “We don’t know what you ate, but we’re pretty sure it was a flying squirrel.” That’s the kind of medical mystery you don’t want to star in.
Arrest made after UK food crime unit seizes illegal bushmeat
What happens to the meat now?
You might be wondering: does the police force host a giant BBQ with the evidence? No. Absolutely not. Once seized, the meat is incinerated. Gone. Turned to ash. Like a secret recipe that’s too dangerous to share. The only remains are the crime scene photos and a press release that makes you drastically reconsider your next takeaway order.
And if you’re thinking, “Hey, I’ve never seen bushmeat for sale,” think again. It’s often sold door-to-door or in unmarked packaging in community shops. A piece of meat that looks like smoked beef could easily be a slice of antelope or primate. Next time your kebab tastes a little… adventurous, just smile and pretend it’s lamb.
