While the concept might make us cringe, there are parts of the world where guinea pigs are seen as something to be farmed instead of an adorable furry house pet. Cuy (guinea pig) is popular in South America and is described to taste more like a game hen, with dark and stringy flesh.
Considerations beyond edible pet concerns include factory farming-like development and carbon footprint affects.
Source: Inside Hook, January 4, 2022. Link.
INSIGHTS: We suspect cuy is akin to muskrat or nutria which are popular in some parts of the U.S. A Delaware tradition, muskrat is also a traditional meal in southern New Jersey. Nutria were presented as sustainable delicacies in 2019 on PBS <Link>.