When Was the Mystery Meat Discovered?
Waiting to be discovered by someone, the meat lay sadly on the ground. Until someone came across the bizarre sight.
Source: Tim Kiser/Wikipedia
On May 10th, 2024, Captain Eric Hunter at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was the person who told Dispatch about the conundrum. The report then led to the meat finally being identified. But what, exactly, was it?
The Meat Revealed
Captain Hunter revealed that the mystery meat contained a whole array of meats. The heap consisted of chicken, hot dogs, steaks, ribs, and shrimp.
Source: Renee Comet/Czar/Wikimedia Commons
Hunter said that the meat looked as though it was “from somebody’s freezer or refrigerator.” It is unknown how long the meat was left there, but presumably no longer than one night. If left any longer, many animals could have eaten the meat before it would have started to rot.
How Did the Meat Get Removed?
Of course, the authorities of Washing County couldn’t leave the meat there to rot and smell up the area.
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Grandview Township Trustees started to remove the leftover meat but animals started to eat it, trying to beat the cleaners. The animals then started to spread it out as they grabbed parts and ran away, making the mess even worse.
Who Dumped the Meat?
So, where did the meat come from, and who did the dumping?
Source: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato)/Wikimedia Commons
The meat dumper is currently unknown. Since it is such a large amount of food, it can be assumed it could be a restaurant or a shop that had excess food and instead of an employee correctly disposing of it, they just left it on the side of the road. Maybe they assumed animals would eat it all overnight.
Why Would Someone Dump a Pile of Meat?
A massive pile of meat found on the side of the road isn’t something that happens every day. Laziness is the biggest suspicion of why someone would do this.
Source: Nick Webb/Wikipedia
It could have also been because of the cost for a restaurant to properly dispose of certain meats. Since it was all mixed up, it could be assumed the meat was previously in a bin and then ditched.
Social Media Reactions
Of course, after pictures and videos of the meat were circulated around the internet, there have been many comments.
Source: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler/Grid Engine/Wikipedia
One Reddit user speculated, “Maybe expired and someone didn’t want to pay for disposal?” Another joked, “Oh no… that’s just offal!” The meat mound may be a mystery but at least the internet will always find ways to joke about it.
Ohio Meat Disposal Rules
Like every other state, Ohio has its rules about how to properly dispose of meat for health and safety regulations.
Source: Daniel Capilla/Wikimedia Commons
The residents of the nearby area are concerned that the meat could pose serious health threats to animals and humans. This concern is very valid, as the dumped meat is very close to a nearby stream. Fortunately, Joshua Lane of the Washington County Health Department stated that the meat won’t harm anyone.
Rotting Meat Problems
No one likes rotting meat, especially a rather large pile of it. However, it can also create some issues beyond smelling bad.
Source: Rocky Mountain Laboratories/Wikipedia
As it rots, toxins spread, causing horrible things such as food poisoning. Hopefully, no one in Ohio is eating this meat, but the wildlife surrounding it may get sick and cause some deaths while they scavenge it.
Strange Curiosities Dumped in Ohio
Strangely enough, this isn’t the most unusual item to be dumped in a city in Ohio.
Source: Klafubra/Wikipedia
A small town called ‘The Eden of Ohio” has a real-life mummy that was just a man who had died on the side of the road. The man’s identity was unknown, and he ended up being on display for 36 years.
Meat Dumped in England
America isn’t the only place to have a mystery meat dump near a forest.
Source: Unknown photographer/Wikipedia
In Stockport, in the north of England, large piles of raw meat were left around the town almost every week. The chicken and red meat were cleaned up as soon as it was reported. Eventually, whoever was dumping the meat and worrying neighbors stopped just out of the blue.
Food Waste in America
In America, nearly 60 million tons of food are wasted every year. This is said to be around 40% of the country’s food supply.
Source: OpenIDUser2/Wikipedia
It is concerning why this much food is wasted and how overconsumption has become such a problem. This waste doesn’t just lie on the consumer but the companies who are overproducing the food that is just not needed. It’s no wonder someone had so much meat to dump!