Liver (food)

{{nutritionalvalue |name=liver, pork, raw| kJ=561 | protein=21 g | fat=3.7 g | carbs=2.5 g | iron_mg=23 | sodium_mg=87 | pantothenic_mg=6.7 | niacin_mg=15 | riboflavin_mg=3 | folate_ug=212 | vitB6_mg=0.7 | vitB12_ug=26 | vitA_ug=6500 | vitC_mg=23 | source_usda=1 | note=This nutritional data is from 1992 and refers to raw pork liver only. Liver nutrients vary among species.}}

Animal livers are rich in iron, copper, B vitamins and preformed vitamin A. Daily consumption of liver can be harmful; for instance, vitamin A toxicity has been proven to cause medical issues to babies born of pregnant mothers who consumed too much vitamin A.{{cite journal |last1=Rothman |first1=Kenneth |title=Teratogenicity of High Vitamin A Intake |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |date=November 23, 1995 |volume=21 |issue=333 |pages=1369–1373 |doi=10.1056/NEJM199511233332101 |pmid=7477116|doi-access=free }} For the same reason, consuming the livers of some species like polar bears, dogs, or moose is unsafe. A single slice (68 g) of beef liver exceeds the tolerable upper intake level of vitamin A (6410 μg preformed vs. UL for preformed = 3000 μg).{{cite web |title=Vitamin A |url=https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-A |website=oregonstate.edu |date=22 April 2014 |publisher=Linus Pauling Institute |access-date=March 30, 2020}} 100 g cod liver contains 5 mg of vitamin A and 100 μg of vitamin D.[http://www.ernaehrung.de/lebensmittel/de/T045100/Dorschleber-roh.php Nährstoffe und Vitamine in Dorschleber] Deutsches Ernährungsberatungs- und -informationsnetz {{in lang|de}} Liver contains large amounts of vitamin B₁₂, and this was one of the factors that led to the discovery of the vitamin.{{Cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=John M. |last2=Molloy |first2=Anne M. |date=2012 |title=The discovery of vitamin B(12) |journal=Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=239–245 |doi=10.1159/000343114 |issn=1421-9697 |pmid=23183296|s2cid=28688784 }}

From Middle English liver, from Old English {{lang|ang|lifer}}, from Proto-Germanic {{lang|mis|*librō}}, from Proto-Indo-European {{lang|mis|*leyp-}} "to smear, smudge, stick", from Proto-Indo-European {{lang|mis|*ley}}- "to be slimy, be sticky, glide". Cognate with Saterland Frisian {{lang|stq|Lieuwer}} "liver", West Frisian {{lang|fy|lever}} "liver", Dutch {{lang|nlo|lever}} "liver", German {{lang|de|Leber}} "liver", Danish, Norwegian and Swedish language lever "liver" the last three from Old Norse {{lang|non|lifr}} "liver".

In the Romance languages, the anatomical word for "liver" (French {{lang|fr|foie}}, Italian {{lang|it|fegato}}, Spanish {{lang|es|hígado}}, etc.) derives not from the Latin anatomical term, {{lang|la|jecur}}, but from the culinary term {{lang|la|ficatum}}, literally "stuffed with figs", referring to the livers of geese that had been fattened on figs (foie gras).{{cite web |title=Foie |url=https://larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/foie/34366?q=foie#34314 |website=Larousse.fr|access-date=2019-04-16}}

Liver can be baked, boiled, broiled, fried, stir-fried, or eaten raw (asbeh nayeh or sawda naye in Lebanese cuisine, liver sashimi). In many preparations, pieces of liver are combined with pieces of meat or kidneys, like in the various forms of Middle Eastern mixed grill (e.g. meurav Yerushalmi). Spreads or pâtés made from liver have various names, including liver pâté, pâté de foie gras, chopped liver, liverwurst, liver spread, and Braunschweiger. Other liver sausages include mazzafegato or salsiccia matta. A traditional South African delicacy, namely skilpadjies, is made of minced lamb's liver wrapped in netvet (caul fat), and grilled over an open fire.

Some fish livers are valued as food, especially the stingray liver. It is used to prepare delicacies, such as poached skate liver on toast in England,{{cite book|last1=Dods|first1=Margaret|title=The Cook and Housewife's Manual ... The fifth edition, revised and enlarged, etc|date=1837|publisher=Oliver & Boyd, Eninburgh|page=269|edition=Sixth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mnuUWR5uNpUC&q=skate+liver+on+toast&pg=PA269|access-date=13 February 2018}} as well as the beignets de foie de raie and foie de raie en croute in French cuisine.{{cite book|last1=Schwabe|first1=Calvin W.|title=Unmentionable Cuisine|year=1979|publisher=University of Virginia Press|isbn=978-0813911625|page=315|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SiBntk9jGmoC&q=poached+skate+liver&pg=PA315|access-date=12 February 2018}} Cod liver (usually tinned in its oil and served seasoned) is a popular spread for bread or toast in several European countries. In Russia, it is served with potatoes. Cod liver oil is commonly used as a dietary supplement. Liver of burbot is eaten in Finland: it is common for fish vendors and supermarket fish aisles to sell these fish with liver and roe sacks still attached. These parts are often eaten boiled or added to burbot soup. Burbot and its liver are a traditional winter food.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meillakotona.fi/artikkelit/kalakoulu-made|title = Kalakoulu: Made|date = 28 February 2011}}

{{main|hypervitaminosis A}}

The livers of polar bears, walruses, bearded seals, and huskies can contain very high levels of preformed vitamin A,{{Cite journal|last=Rodahl|first=K.|author2=T. Moore |date=July 1943|title=The vitamin A content and toxicity of bear and seal liver|journal=Biochemical Journal |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=166–168|doi=10.1042/bj0370166|issn=0264-6021|pmc=1257872|pmid=16747610}} and their consumption has led to vitamin A poisoning (hypervitaminosis A) according to several anecdotal reports. It has been estimated that consumption of 500 grams of polar bear liver would result in a toxic dose for a human. Russian sailor Alexander Konrad, who accompanied explorer Valerian Albanov in a tragic ordeal over the Arctic ice in 1912, wrote about the awful effects of consuming polar bear liver.Valerian Albanov. In the Land of White Death. Appendix; A. Konrad's notes. Also, in 1913, Antarctic explorers on the Far Eastern Party Douglas Mawson and Xavier Mertz were believed to have been poisoned, the latter fatally, from eating husky liver, though this claim has been recently contested.{{Citation|author=Carrington-Smith, Denise|title=Mawson and Mertz: a re-evaluation of their ill-fated mapping journey during the 1911–1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition|date=5–19 December 2005 |url=https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2005/183/11/mawson-and-mertz-re-evaluation-their-ill-fated-mapping-journey-during-1911-1914 |journal=The Medical Journal of Australia|volume=183|issue=11/12|pages=638–641|doi=10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb00064.x |pmid=16336159 |s2cid=8430414}}

Mercury content in some species can also be an issue. In 2012, the Government of Nunavut, Canada warned pregnant women to lower their intake of ringed seal liver due to elevated levels of organomercury.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Environment and Climate Change|date=2020-07-03|title=4. Mercury and Human Health|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/management-toxic-substances/evaluation-effectiveness-risk-management-measures-mercury/mercury-human-health.html|access-date=2020-10-27|website=aem}}

The neurotoxin in the liver of the pufferfish (which is consumed in Japanese cuisine as fugu, tightly regulated by Japanese law) contains the highest concentration of the tetrodotoxin, which characterizes the species. Consequently, the liver has been illegal to serve since 1984.

Pig liver is a traditional food of immigrant Okinawans in Hawaii. It used to be eaten on New Year's Eve.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RI9BPVDH8HsC&dq=pig+liver+hawaii&pg=PA80|title=Ethnic Foods of Hawai{{okina}}i|page=80}}

In Pakistan and North India, the liver is eaten traditionally as the first meat of the sacrificial animal during Eid al-Adha. Kaleji masala or kaleji salan is popular throughout the festival.{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/recipe/for-a-food-filled-eid-al-adha-celebration-101657528353702.html |title=For a food-filled Eid-Al-Adha celebration |website=hindustantimes.com |date=2022-07-11 |access-date=2024-12-09}}

• Offal

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{{commons category|Liver as food}}

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Category:German cuisine

Category:Greek cuisine

Category:Mexican cuisine

Category:Filipino cuisine

Category:South African cuisine

Category:Offal