Piers Paul Read writes in his book ‘Alive’ about the survivors of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 which crashed in the Andes in October 1972. The plane was carrying the Uruguay Rugby team, pupils from Montevideo when it came down in the mountains. 16 of the 45 passengers survived having resulted to eating the unthinkable. When supplies ran out the survivors started consuming things they had in their luggage such as toothpaste which would have had some calorific value. They also ate the stuffing out of the plane’s seats to curb hunger. When all of this was gone they turned to cannibalism, eating the remains of their fellow passengers who had died.

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The Siege of Paris lasted from September 1970 until January 1871. Severe food shortages during this period led to the slaughter of whatever animals were available. Rats, Cats, dogs and horses were often put onto restaurant menus. Not only this but Castor and Pollux, Paris’s two elephants were also eaten.

Here are some of the items on a restaurant menu in the Latin Quarter at the time:

* Brochettes de foie de Chien à la maître d’hôtel. (dog)

* Emincé de rable de Chat. Sauce mayonnaise. (cat)

* Epaules et filets de Chien braisés. Sauce aux tomates. (dog)

* Civet de Chat aux Champignons. (cat)

* Côtelettes de Chien aux petits pois. (dog)

* Salamis de Rats. Sauce Robert. (rats)

* Gigots de chien flanqués de ratons. Sauce poivrade. (rats)

* Begoniasau jus. (flowers)

* Plum-pudding au rhum et à la Moelle de Cheval. (horse)