Cynthia Mitchell, in her article The Afterlife of Afterbirth: Notes on eating human placenta, has a clever and humorous take on eating placenta. Apparently placenta was the hopeful entree for an Adventures in Dining group. Even though their plans were thwarted by formaldehyde, her curiosity is sparked and she decides to learn more about placentophagy.
Including my favorite part – when in doubt, call Mom.
Figuring the modern incarnation of this practice must have caught on in the 1970s, I called Jacqueline Darrigrand of San Francisco, a self-described feminist who wrote her master’s thesis on witches, did a back-to-the-land stint, and doesn’t flinch at organ meats.
“Hi Mom. Did you or any of your friends eat placenta?”
“What? I’m walking down the street. I can’t hear you very well.”
“PLA-CEN-TA. Did anyone you know eat placenta?”
“Oh! Ha! No one I know did it, but I heard about it happening. It’s supposed to be very nutritious.”
“Did you want to eat our placentas?”“I can’t say that I was tempted, no. Anyway, I don’t think that was offered to me as an option.”
“Do you think it’s gross?”“Nothing is grosser than giving birth.”
Read the whole article at meatpaper.