A misleading viral video claims boba tea’s chewy ‘pearls’ are made from rabbit poop, but experts say the allegations are unfounded.
The ‘Poop Boba’ Video
The video in question features some disturbing footage of rabbits being handled and what appears to be rabbit droppings being processed into a substance resembling tapioca pearls.
What Boba Actually Is
So, what are tapioca pearls really made of? They’re typically made from cassava root, tapioca starch, which is derived from the root of the cassava plant.
This process involves extracting the starch from the cassava root, then drying and milled into the familiar round boba shapes.
Tapioca starch has been used for centuries as a food ingredient and is commonly used in desserts like puddings, cakes, and, of course, boba tea.
No Connection to Rabbit Droppings
According to experts, it’s highly unlikely that tapioca pearls are made from rabbit droppings, despite the disturbing video.
For one, the process would be unhygienic, impractical, and probably illegal in the food industry.
Another reason is that food manufacturers are strictly regulated by health and safety agencies, and any food product containing animal waste would likely be detected and banned.
Rabbit droppings don’t contain the right combination of starches to produce the desired boba texture, anyway.
What This Means
So, what’s behind the misleading video? It’s likely the result of a misunderstanding or misinformation.
Now, you might be wondering why someone would create a video featuring what appears to be rabbit waste.
While the intentions behind the video are unclear, it’s essential to fact-check and verify information, especially when it comes to food and health.
