Is it Mammal?
“So, you can’t eat eggs?”
I hear this all the time when I’m explaining the alpha-gal diet to the wait staff taking my order. Just in case there’s any questions: Eggs are not a dairy product. And they’re not from mammals. No judgement toward anyone for mixing this up! I mean, eggs are always stored with the cheese and milk at the grocery store, so it’s confusing. It’s just that I don’t want to limit my choices any more than I absolutely have to.
It’s been a long time since most of us learned what a mammal is, so we thought it was time for a refresher.
Mammals are defined as vertebrate animals who produce milk to feed their young. All mammals give live birth with exception of platypuses and echidnas. And all mammals have hair at some point in their lives, though it’s not visible on some like dolphins and whales. There are also some mammals that have very little hair like pigs and elephants. Regardless of the amount of hair, they’re all off the table (pun intended).
While there are more than 5,400 species of mammals, only a very small percentage of those appear on a typical restaurant menu, making mammal meat a little easier to identify when eating out. The obvious culprits where we live in Virginia are typically beef, pork, lamb, and venison. But you don’t have to go far to find dishes made from bison, goat, rabbit, and even kangaroo. And if you branch out even further, some places offer antelope, squirrel, horse, and more. My aunt and uncle still claim the best meal they ever had was guinea pig in Peru. Also a mammal. And one I don’t think I could try even if I didn’t have alpha-gal.
A good place to start when determining if an animal is a mammal is to identify whether or not it has feathers. If they are prepared properly with no mammal byproducts, animals with feathers are safe.* This includes poultry like chicken, turkey, and duck, but also emu and ostrich which are great non-mammal sources of iron. Pigeon and quail are often considered delicacies, though I’ve never tried them myself. But, by all the rules, they should be safe to eat. Bats, on the other hand, are mammals since they produce milk, have hair, and give live birth, so should you cross bat soup on a menu…politely choose something else. (Sorry not sorry, Joker.)
Then there’s the question of fins. Most seafood is considered alpha-gal safe unless it’s from sea mammals such as dolphin or whale (or seal, walrus, otter, if that’s your thing). And most reptiles and amphibians are also safe if you enjoy frog, alligator, or snake. I’ve tried two of the three of those, but it’s worth noting that the NIH states that the consumption of reptiles can carry certain biological risks, such as bacterial and/or parasitic infections.
Of course, keep an eye out for the various types of mammal-produced dairy that is frequently snuck into recipes, if you’re sensitive to it like me and Candice. Butter, cream, cheese, yogurt…it’s found in so many things. But don’t be discouraged! The two very best desserts I’ve ever had came from Donna Jean’s in San Diego and DC Vegan in Washington, DC…both completely vegan restaurants.
There are lots of delicious options out there to enjoy. And every time you go out to eat is an opportunity to educate the management of staff! I hope that helps you narrow down your menu options. For more tips and tricks on eating out, dig into our website or keep an eye on our social media platforms.
*Not all of these options are alpha-gal safe for everyone. If you are particularly sensitive, you may react to processing ingredients or more. Always double check ALL ingredients for your own personal safety.