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Strange History

15 Bizarre Foods From History We Would Never Eat Today

Darren January 24, 2026 6 min
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8. Ortolan Bunting: Forbidden Songbird

8. Ortolan Bunting: Forbidden Songbird
Ortolan bunting, once a French delicacy, now protected after bans due to overhunting.

Once a prized dish in France, the ortolan bunting is eaten whole, bones and all, hidden from view by a napkin. The now-illegal practice decimated populations of the small songbird, prompting widespread bans (smithsonianmag.com).

Written by
Darren

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