"Mountain Oysters" and Lambs' Tails

[Mattityahu ben Noach]

Here in the South, there is a meat item that is sometimes offered. They're called "mountain oysters" or sometimes "Rocky Mountain oysters." Essentially they are bull testicles.
I know that it is forbidden to eat the limb of an animal which was removed while the animal was still alive. It is my understanding Mountain Oysters are removed while the bull is alive, making them forbidden for Gentiles. I would assume they are forbidden for Jews, too, but...
1) Are they kosher for Jews if the animal was dead before they were removed?
2) Are they okay for Gentiles if it can be ascertained with certainty the animal was dead before they were removed?
3) If they are not kosher for Jews but are okay for Gentiles if removed after the animal is dead, would/could a Jewish butcher (I think the word is "shochet") set the body apart for Gentiles to eat?

[Director Michael]

... Essentially they are bull testicles....

1) Are they kosher for Jews if the animal was dead before they were removed?

In order to be made kosher for Jews, the bull must first be killed by kosher Jewish slaughter, and the carcass must be inspected for any signs of disease or injury that would make the animal "treifeh" and hence forbidden for a Jew to consume. If the carcass is deemed acceptable for kosher processing, the testicle meat would have to be "kashered" by soaking, salting and rinsing to remove the blood, which is forbidden for Jews to consume. For this part of the animal, that process is not so simple, because the testicle has a thick outer membrane that requires a special procedure before the kashering process.

2) Are they okay for Gentiles if it can be ascertained with certainty the animal was dead before they were removed?

Yes.

3) If they are not kosher for Jews but are okay for Gentiles if removed after the animal is dead, would/could a Jewish butcher (I think the word is "shochet") set the body apart for Gentiles to eat?

Yes, that could be done. In most slaughterhouses where kosher slaughter is done, the lower-back section with the hindquarters of the kosher-slaughtered animal is transferred into the non-kosher section of the slaughterhouse, because it is too much trouble to painstakingly remove the sciatic nerve (the "gid ha'nasheh") from the back legs, since Jews are forbidden to eat that. Usually when the back end of the carcass is "dressed" for transfer to the non-kosher meat line, the area of the carcass around the testicles is simply removed and thrown away.

[brian]

The crushed testicles of animals has been rumored to be ingredients to certain energy drinks, such as "Monster" or "Rockstar" energy drinks. This is just a rumor. I love these drinks, but currently abstain pending further investigation. thanks for letting me post.

[Director Michael]

The crushed testicles of animals has been rumored to be ingredients to certain energy drinks, such as "Monster" or "Rockstar" energy drinks.  This is just a rumor.  I love these drinks, but currently abstain pending further investigation.  thanks for letting me post.

I asked ChatGPT the following question: "It has been rumored that crushed testicles of animals are included as ingredients in some commercial energy drinks. Is there any truth to that rumor?"

The following text is the answer that it provided:

Short answer: No—this rumor is not true for commercial energy drinks.

Where the rumor comes from:

The confusion usually centers on an ingredient called taurine, which is commonly listed on energy drink labels. Taurine is a naturally occurring compound found in the human body and in foods like meat and fish. ([Mayo Clinic][1])

Historically, taurine was first identified in animal tissues (including ox bile, and it exists in various animal fluids), which is where the “animal testicles” or “bull semen” myth originated. ([McGill University][2])

What is actually used today in modern commercial products:

* The taurine in energy drinks is synthetically manufactured in laboratories
* It is not extracted from animals
* This applies to major brands and the industry in general

([ThoughtCo][3])

For example, manufacturers explicitly state that taurine is “not derived from bulls or any other animals” and is produced under controlled industrial processes. ([Red Bull][4])

Bottom line:
* The idea that energy drinks contain crushed animal testicles (or similar animal parts) is a myth
* It likely arose from misunderstandings about taurine’s name and early scientific history
* Modern energy drinks use synthetic ingredients, not animal-derived ones

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifes...q-20058177 "Taurine in energy drinks: What is it?"
[2] https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health...bull-semen "Why is there a bull on the 'Red Bull' logo?"
[3] https://www.thoughtco.com/taurine-red-bu...men-607438 "Does the Taurine in Red Bull Come From Bull Semen?"
[4] https://www.redbull.com/us-en/energydrin...-testicles "Q&A | Is taurine made from bulls' testicles?"