Blog #24: February 25, 2021 - Seal Oil for Elderly of Alaska

I just read a very interesting article about the use of seal oil in Alaska by the Inuit there (known as Inupiat). Specifically the article was talking about serving seal oil, which indigenous people use as a sort of dipping sauce for other traditional meats, to elderly people in homes. Because the homes are state-run they must follow strict guidelines when it comes to food safety.

One of the issues with the seal oil (which is derived from bearded, ringed, and spotted seals - not harp seals like Terra Nova Seal Oil) is how to serve it in a safe way. So, they sent samples to the University of Wisconsin to find out the best way to heat it to kill any harmful pathogens without also eliminating the nutritional benefits.

They seem to be well on the way to understanding the best way to proceed. Check out the article, it’s quite interesting.