Shark fin soup
| Alternative names | Shark's fin soup |
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| Type | Soup |
| Place of origin | China |
| Main ingredients | Shark fins, broth |
| Shark fin soup | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 魚翅羹 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鱼翅羹 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "fish fin stew" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shark's fin soup is a soup or stewed dish served in parts of China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. The shark fins provide texture, while the taste comes from the other ingredients. It is commonly served at special occasions such as weddings and banquets, or as a luxury item.
It has been condemned by the Humane Society International, which states that approximately 72 million sharks are killed each year for their fins. Currently, international concerns over the sustainability and welfare of sharks have impacted consumption and availability of the soup worldwide. Recently, health concerns about the high concentration of BMAA in shark fins have arisen.
Shark fin soup substitutes have lately appeared on the market which do not require any shark fins, thus avoiding the environmental damage caused by the shark finning practice.