Via iStockphoto / @goyah_bean2007 TikTok
A TikToker questioned what looked like a tattoo on a large cured meat leg, sparking wild theories in the comments.
Confidence in food safety and quality in the U.S. has significantly decreased in the past couple of years.
A recent survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) found that only 55% of Americans said they were “very or somewhat confident” in the safety of the U.S. food supply.
That was down from 62% in 2024 and 70% in 2023, making 2025 the lowest level of confidence in the 13 years IFIC had tracked the question. Only 11% said they were “very confident.”
Recent major foodborne illness outbreaks haven’t exactly helped ease those concerns, and funding cuts to food-safety agencies under the Trump administration could also be a factor.
While many concerns about food safety are valid, a concerning number of conspiracy theories about food have also taken over TikTok and other social media platforms.
One recent example includes claims that people are consuming “exotic meats” that look particularly familiar.
In a TikTok video that has gotten over 794,300 views, conspiracy content creator @goyah_bean calls into question a man cutting into what he considers some very suspicious-looking meat.
What’s Suspicious About This Cut Of Meat?
The clip shows someone slicing into a large animal leg with the skin still attached. There also appears to be some kind of marking or stamp on the outside.
“Now, what is this s— right here?” the creator asks. “First glance, I thought it was someone’s leg with a tattoo on it. And I’m really hoping that that’s not what we’re looking at, because if it is, that s— is wild.”
As the original video continues, a man slices thin pieces from the leg.
“A man is seen cutting into what they’re calling exotic meat,” the TikToker says. “But now look at the outside of that s—. You can clearly see what looks like a tattoo on the skin.”
The creator acknowledges that there’s a far more conventional explanation.
“Obviously this could be some kind of animal meat that was stamped or marked,” he says.
He asks viewers to identify it. “Can somebody please tell me what the hell is this s—?” he asks. “Because I know damn well I’m not the only one seeing that tattoo.”
What Even Is It?
From its shape, thick exterior layer, pink cured meat, and the way it’s being sliced, the leg looks a lot like Ibearian ham (jamón Ibérico) or a similar whole cured ham.
Jamón Ibérico comes from Iberian pigs in Spain that feed heavily on acorns before slaughter. Producers then salt and dry-cure the whole legs for years, which creates the deep red-to-pink meat and tenderness that make the ham famous.
What @goyah_bean calls a “tattoo” is likely a stamp, brand, or seal that proves its authenticity or is placed there for inspection purposes.
This specific video the TikToker stitched was originally posted by a high-end Iberian ham retailer based in Spain.
‘Looks Like A Human’
Some viewers immediately recognized what they believed the man was cutting.
“I can say with confidence that what you’re looking at is Jamón Ibérico,” one commenter wrote. “It’s made from black Iberian pigs. The best version, called de Bellota, comes from pigs that eat acorns.”
Other viewers weren’t convinced.
“Looks like a human leg to me,” one person wrote.
“It doesnt even look like meat,” another said.
Another commenter couldn’t even decide whether it looked like meat at all. “it doesnt even look like meat it looks like fruit,” they wrote.
@goyah_bean2007 Man Cutting Meat with Tattoo #meat #steak #food #humanmeat #fyp
BroBible has reached out to @goyah_bean via direct messages for comment.