section_path: Roles with humans/Dogs as food
section_name: Dogs as food
paragraph_text: Dogs as food
  
  Meat from dogs is consumed in some East Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines; such traditions date back to antiquity. It is estimated that 30 million dogs are killed and consumed in Asia every year. Han Chinese traditionally ate dog meat. China is the world's largest consumer of dogs, with an estimated 10 to 20 million dogs killed every year for human consumption—a figure derived from extrapolating industry reports on meat tonnage. Switzerland, Polynesia, and pre-Columbian Mexico historically consumed dog meat. In some parts of Poland and Central Asia, dog fat is reportedly believed to be beneficial for the lungs.
  
  Eating dog meat is a social taboo in most parts of the world; debates have ensued over banning the consumption of dog meat. Emperors of the Sui dynasty (581–618) in China attempted to outlaw dog-meat consumption, with the Tang dynasty (618–907) partially prohibiting dog meat consumption at events. Proponents of eating dog meat have argued that placing a distinction between livestock and dogs is Western hypocrisy and that there is no difference in eating different animals' meat. In some countries, selling or slaughtering dogs for human consumption is prohibited, though some still consume it in modern times.