Teddy Roosevelt's Meat-Eating Preferences Were A Bit Particular. Here's Why - Tasting Table

"In 1909, former President Theodore Roosevelt and his son went on safari to Africa and collected over 11,000 specimens, ranging from plants and insects to large animals like hippos and lions. Between the two men, they shot over 500 of Africa's largest game animals, most of which were sent to the Smithsonian. Yet, Roosevelt was also a committed conservationist; we have him to thank for the U.S. Forest Service and 150 million acres of national forests."

"Roosevelt loved to hunt, but not for sport. In fact, in his book, "African Game Trails," he called sport hunting "butchery" and "wanton cruelty." He often ate what he killed and lamented the losses caused by overhunting and deforestation, fearing the wasting of natural resources. Roosevelt enjoyed game meat as well as beef, and he wrote frequently about eating chicken. He valued food that was not only satisfying but also safe and ethically produced."

"When hosting a dinner for Prince Wilhelm of Germany, Roosevelt offered the prince a 10-course meal that started with oysters on the half shell. Interestingly, the 26th U.S. President was a key factor in passing the Meat Inspection and Pure Food & Drug Acts after testifying before Congress that he would have sooner eaten his old hat than the "embalmed beef" being fed to soldiers. His own tastes at home reflected that all he wanted was a decent meal without a lot of frills."

Theodore Roosevelt hunted extensively and ate much of what he killed during expeditions, including on an African safari where he and his son collected over 11,000 specimens. He shot hundreds of large game animals but insisted hunting should not be sport, calling it "butchery" and lamenting overhunting and deforestation. He enjoyed game meat, beef, and frequently ate chicken, favoring simple, ethically produced food and preferring fried chicken with white gravy prepared like his mother's. He established the U.S. Forest Service and protected millions of acres, and he helped pass meat inspection and pure food laws after condemning "embalmed beef."

Read at Tasting Table