During everyday life, whether dealing with a disaster situation of not, comes the need for sustenance. Unfortunately for many of the people in the world, access to safe food and proper nutrition doesn’t seem to be a right so much as a privilege. Those that can afford it and/or aren’t restricted by law to forage, farm, fish or otherwise accrue it have a distinct advantage over those that can’t… or do they?
Millions of human beings the world over (including myself) have become increasingly dependent on easy-access food sources like grocery stores, farmers markets, vending machines, restaurants and fast-food chains. But as food costs rise and the economy becomes more unstable, many of us are left wondering: How much longer will I be able to feed my family?
It isn’t just the rising cost of food and risk of unemployment that make the question of “Where is my next meal coming from?” a serious thing to consider, total reliance on any one system is a dangerous game to play. As the global climate changes, viruses and bacteria evolve, humans continue to deplete precious natural resources and the threat of a Zombie apocalypse grows, we all need to be thinking about our next meal and where to get it from.
Both personal and community gardens are great, there’s no question about it. The ability to grow even just a portion of what you eat isn’t just gratifying, it can be key to independence and survival. But proper preparedness goes well beyond what you’ve got in your backyard or stashed away in the cupboards (see: Food at the end of the world). I’m talking about foraging and the importance of knowing what is and isn’t safe to eat.
THE UNIVERSAL EDIBILITY TEST: Performed over the span of 24 hours, this test should only be performed on plants that are abundant enough in the immediate area to make the time and effort worthwhile.
While there are literally thousands of plants and animals out there in the world that are safe to eat (some raw, some cooked and some somewhere between), there are many more that don’t go down so well, some of which do more than just give you a little belly ache. Time and again lost and/or desperate individuals have met with an early grave simply by stuffing some unknown plant into their bellies.
With over 700 varieties of poisonous plants in the US and Canada alone, you can just imagine how daunting a task it would be to memorize each and every one that is safe to eat. Without a book defining which plants are safe to eat and which are not, you could easily add your name among those with early graves.
While the results of the Universal Edibility Test aren’t 100% guaranteed, when performed properly it just might save your life.
Separate – Not all parts of all plants are edible. That means you’ll need to separate each plant into its 5 basic parts: leaves, roots, stems, buds and flowers (when applicable), testing each part individually to determine edibility. Discard plants that show evidence of parasites, worms and/or mildew, it’s a good sign that the plant is unhealthy or rotting. Do not consume anything but clean water and a single part of the plant during testing as it may skew the results.
Contact -Perform a contact test. If your skin reacts poorly, you can bet that your belly will too. After selecting one part of the plant, crush it and rub it on the inside of your wrist or elbow for 15 minutes. Wait 8 hours, watching for a reaction (burning sensation, redness, welts, swelling, bumps, rash) at the point of contact. If there is no reaction after 8 hours, move on to the next step.
Kiss – Some plants, though toxic when raw, become edible after being boiled. If you have the ability to boil a potentially toxic plant, do it. Boiled or not, hold the plant part to your lip for 3 minutes. If you feel any burning or tingling sensation, remove the plant part from your lip and start over with a different part of the plant. If there is no reaction, continue to the next step.
Taste - Put the plant part into your mouth and hold it there on your tongue for 15 minutes, being careful to not swallow it. Not all plants taste great, but that doesn’t mean they are toxic. If you experience a burning or tingling sensation, spit the plant part out and immediately wash your mouth with clean water. Fully chew the plant part, holding it in your mouth for 15 minutes. DO NOT SWALLOW. If you experience any burning, tingling or numbness spit it out and rinse with clean water.
Swallow – Once you’ve tested, tasted and chewed without adverse effects, it’s finally time to swallow your potentially poisonous bounty… but that doesn’t mean you can make a meal of it yet. Swallow ONLY the plant piece you’ve been working on, wait 8 hours. Do not consume anything but clean water for the next 8 hours. If you feel nauseated or cramping, induce vomiting and flush your system by drinking lots of water. If you feel fine and there were no adverse effects, it’s time to eat a little more.
Seconds – Gather together one-quarter cup (a small handful) of the same part of the same plant you just tested. Prepare it the same way (boiling if possible, raw if not). Eat the plant and wait 8 hours. Do not consume anything but clean water for the next 8 hours. If you have any adverse side effects or feel ill, inducing vomiting and flush your system with clean water. If you make it through this second helping and you haven’t gotten sick, then whatever you just ate passed the test.
Remember, not all parts of every plant are equal. That means you’ll need to test EACH PIECE separately BEFORE you plan to have it in your meal. While it may be time-consuming, it just might save your life. While there is a lot of waiting involved through the Universal Edibility Test process, it doesn’t all have to be down-time. Stay active by collecting firewood, seeking other food sources, working on your shelter, scavenging for supplies, treating water and working on whatever else you might need to do to survive.
Download and print the Official Zombease: Universal Edibility Test Quick Card to carry with you when you’re on the go:
***WARNING: The Universal Edibility Test is not a 100% guarantee or replacement for knowledge of edible plants, though it may prove to save your life someday. This method of testing does NOT work with mushrooms and other fungus varieties… and remember, that just because something is edible doesn’t mean it has a lot of nutritional value.
Zombease and the staff of Zombease are not responsible for any illness, discomfort, or otherwise effects that may occur from improper testing or use of the Universal Edibility Test.
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