In our real world, the vast majority of organic creatures are technically edible. Beyond the usual beef, pork, chicken, and seafood that fill supermarket shelves, a wide array of more unusual animals like deer, horses, snakes, frogs, crocodiles, ostriches, and even insects are consumed in various cultures. The list goes on, showcasing the diverse range of protein sources available. However, just because something can be eaten doesn’t mean it’s a popular or widely accepted food source. Many people balk at the idea of eating locusts or caterpillars, regardless of their nutritional value or potential deliciousness. Eccentric candies designed to look deliberately unappetizing, like cockroach-shaped sweets, highlight this inherent aversion to certain foods. Why would anyone seek out the “real thing” if even a novelty version is off-putting?
This preference for familiar foods significantly shapes our agriculture. Farming practices primarily focus on mass-breeding common domesticated animals because consumer demand is concentrated on these well-known meats. Exotic animals are rarely farmed; instead, their meat is typically obtained through hunting in the wild. This reliance on hunting introduces elements of skill and luck, making exotic meats less accessible and more challenging to acquire. For most people, the convenience and availability of supermarket meats outweigh the difficulty and uncertainty of hunting for exotic alternatives.
This same principle likely applies to the Pokemon World and the concept of Food Pokemon. Undoubtedly, certain Pokemon species would be specifically chosen for domestication due to their suitability for farming, Miltank being a prime example. However, beyond these obvious choices, it’s unlikely that people would routinely mass-breed a wide variety of other Pokemon for consumption. Consider deer in the real world: while edible, deer are not commonly farmed for everyday meat consumption. Why then would people in the Pokemon World dedicate significant resources to farming Deerling on a large scale? When it comes to agriculture and food production, practicality and ease are always key factors. Therefore, aside from a select few easily domesticated species, it’s improbable that people would undertake the considerable effort of hunting down large numbers of elusive Pokemon solely for food. Exotic pokemon meat would likely remain a rare and difficult-to-obtain commodity, dependent on hunting prowess and chance.
Furthermore, even if most organic Pokemon are technically edible, cultural acceptance and personal preferences would play a crucial role in determining what becomes food pokemon. Just as many in the real world find the idea of eating locusts or caterpillars repulsive, similar sentiments would likely exist in the Pokemon World. For the average person, the thought of consuming Caterpie or other insect-type Pokemon might be instinctively unappealing, regardless of their edibility.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that the consumption of food pokemon in the Pokemon World would primarily revolve around a limited selection of easily domesticated species. For the vast majority of other Pokemon, they would either be too difficult to obtain for practical consumption, or simply not considered palatable or culturally acceptable as food, mirroring our own selective and often culturally-driven eating habits in the real world.
