economy
Lobster was once peasant food
Lobster is known today as a luxury food, but in the past it did not have such a status. In colonial America during the 17th and 18th centuries, lobsters were extremely common along the coast and easily accessible, so they were considered a lower-class food.
TL;DR
- In colonial America (17th-18th centuries), lobster was abundant, cheap, and considered food for the poor, prisoners, and servants.
- Lobster was sometimes used as fertilizer or animal feed due to its low value and high availability.
- The development of railways, canning, and long-distance trade made lobster accessible inland, increasing its perceived value.
- By the 19th and 20th centuries, lobster entered haute cuisine and became a symbol of luxury.
- Lobsters have a unique biological trait: they grow continuously throughout their lives and can live for over 50 years.
- They periodically shed their shells to grow larger, a process that leaves them vulnerable.