Countries that Eat Guinea Pigs 2025

Peruvians traditionally do not keep guinea pigs as pets. To them, it’s a delicacy usually served with potatoes and salsa. Peru seems to remain one of the countries where eating guinea pigs is most common.

Peruvians’ ancestors, the Incas, have eaten them for centuries. The country consumed about 65 million of them a year, as of 2018. They may not be consumed every day, however.

Other South American Countries

Other South American countries where guinea pigs are eaten include Bolivia, Columbia, and Ecuador. These three nations, along with Peru, make up the Andean Community of Nations (CAN). Historically, the guinea pig had been used in religious ceremonies. Studies have revealed evidence of guinea pigs having been raised as livestock at least up until the 1990s.

The peoples of this South American region have used guinea pigs to feed their communities for more than 5,000 years. As of 2015, it’s used as festival food, such as during the religious Corpus Cristi celebrations honoring the saints, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Guinea Pig Domestication

Even though Peru seems to remain one of the countries where guinea pigs are eaten the most, they became domesticated about 3,000 years ago. That’s when the nation began to involve itself more heavily in agricultural pursuits and didn’t roam around so much.

Eventually, guinea pigs began to coexist with humans. Nevertheless, this animal classifies as a rodent and is one of the largest in the world. It does not exist anywhere in the wild as reported in 2021.

Guinea Pig Migration To Europe

It may seem ironic that the same animal used to feed people in South America because it’s cheaper than other foods became a pet for wealthy people. But that’s what apparently happened.

This animal migrated to Europe in the 16th century, and Queen Elizabeth I reportedly had one of the first European guinea pigs in her possession. Besides in the UK, archeological exploration turned up signs of them making it to Belgium.

Are Guinea Pigs Safe to Eat?

Opinions vary concerning the safety of eating guinea pigs. It’s not technically a pig, so some Jewish religious organizations permit eating it. However, other religious dietary laws specify that only certain mammals are considered permissible, and since guinea pigs are classified as rodents, they fall outside those guidelines.

Rodents are not on the list of clean foods according to the Bible. That classification is not necessarily tied to their nutritional value. Instead, some dietary restrictions were based on the feeding habits of animals, particularly those that scavenge through refuse, which was seen as unclean.