Shock and Aawe: Study Finds Most People Cannot Tell The Difference Between Pâté From Dog Food

Finally, some serious academic research. The American Association of Wine Economists have answered that long-standing and vexing question: can people tell the difference between pâte and dog food? The answer in AAWE Working Paper, No. 36, is entitled, “Can People Distinguish Pate from Dog Food?” is no.

For years, I have insisted with my wife that pâte tastes a lot like dog food (while I have never actually tasted dog food, I have been repeatedly kissed by dogs fresh from eating dog food). Now, I have been vindicated. The good people at AAWE gave people the following dishes:

1. Mousse de Canard (duck liver mousse) by Trois Petits Cochons
2. Pate de Campagne (pork liver pate) by Trois Petits Cochons
3. Spam (pork shoulder and ham) by Hormel Foods
4. Liverwurst (D’Agostino’s)
5. Newman’s Own Organic Canned Turkey & Chicken Formula for Puppies

First, it turns out that you can get people to eat dog food in the name of science or $25 bucks. Second, “Only 3 of 18 subjects correctly identified sample C as the dog food.” Six picked liverwurst (which I have also opposed since age 3 as an inedible and evil food stuff).

It is worth noting that 55 percent of the culinary adventurers said the duck liver tasted best and 72% said the dog food tasted worst. However, I still would suggest that paying for something that requires focused taste testing to distinguish from dog food should be set aside for a nice salad and bread sticks.

For the study, click here.

For the full story, click here.

Steven Colbert’s coverage on the report, click here.