Should a New York restaurant stop serving balut?

MANILA, Philippines – Should balut be off the menu in New York City?
If one animal rights activist has her way, it would be.

An online petition circulated on yousignanimals.com is targeting popular Filipino restaurant Maharlika for serving the “exotic” delicacy.

For those who are not familiar with it, balut is regarded as an acquired taste snack by Filipinos and other Asians, and one of the most feared by those who’ve never eaten a partially matured duck egg.

The egg is believed to be a source of strength and virility, but that isn’t enough to convince those with weaker stomachs to swallow the bird peering out from the eggshell, the first thing you see when you crack it open.

While some foreigners had fun taking the challenge of eating balut, one activist thinks it’s inhumane. (READ: Foreigners vs balut: Who wins?)

The petitioner first learned of balut after news organization Business Insider featured the restaurant. “The owner is really proud of selling this food, claiming it is delicious and full of vitamins and proteins essential to humans,” the petition started by Gabrielle Hardy says.

She adds, “The truth is that this food is disgusting and should not be served in a restaurant. I am therefore asking the restaurant to get balut off the menu as soon as possible!”

Watch the video below:

The petition aims to collect 5,000 signatures. 4,305 have signed the petition as of this posting.

What do you think of the move to ban balut in New York City? Share your thoughts below. – Rappler.com