Disgusting Food Museum Stuttgart — Attraction in Stuttgart

Walking past this museum, I was quite taken aback by its name. The word "disgusting" has such a strong negative connotation in the English language, to describe a cultural food as "disgusting" is so offensive and derogatory, regardless of intention. Personally, this is also triggering for a minority like me who have had so many lived experiences where my foods were regarded as "disgusting" by other people, but they bring so much joy, comfort, and fond memories for me. Also, I'm curious if they included any German foods like blood sausage or mett?

Their website defends the use of 'disgust' from an evolutionary view, but this is a very simplistic way of thinking. C'mon, this is 2025. Words like 'disgusting' creates the 'yuck' feeling from a person of higher status, privilege and power. Exotic foods often come from a place of poverty, of having to cherish whatever little food/nourishment they can find and preserve. Their website says food can unite us (and that's true!), but the word 'disgust' does NOT unite; it divides. "Exotic Food Museum", now, that's different.

Edit: In response to them saying to another reviewer, "Could changing our ideas of disgust help us embrace the environmentally sustainable foods of the future?" Well, I wonder how many people leaving this museum would start eating bull penises and locusts, and how enviromentally friendly importing these foods would be? Why not encourage visitors to buy local and embrace 'disgusting'...

Something different, unusual idea, poor execution.

We were expecting to be disgusted, it was mild. The smelling jars smell more of container disinfectant than the actual food. So it's more of a suggestion of what might the food smell like.

They have samples to eat by the entrance for a quick dare. Which was nice.

The staff were quite friendly and welcoming.

They entertain English-speakers as well. Although, one minor mistranslation. We were told at the entrance that we could get their "I tasted everything" shirt if we we were able to try all the stuff at their Tasting bar, after which we were told it's not how it works. Over hearing the guy from the entrance speaking in German, he said, you get the possibility to get the said shirt. Basically saying, you "may". Things get lost in translation sometimes. Anyhow, the shirts were €20.

The displays were interesting. The foods to try were not so bad.

I think the exhibition is a mix of displaying how varying 'disgusting food' could be across cultures and what is culturally acceptable to eat in terms of animal products consumption.

Another interesting choice is to have Hot sauces at the Tasting bar, which were challenging, but I dont think they could be categorized as "disgusting" perse. Even in the context of whichever culture could it...

Die Wahl des Wortes „disgusting“ – besonders im Titel des Museums und auf den Werbeplakaten – untergräbt genau dieses Ziel.

Ich verstehe, dass das Disgusting Food Museum darauf abzielt, zu erforschen, wie Essensvorlieben zwischen Kulturen variieren.

Allerdings nehmen diese öffentlich sichtbaren Materialien jegliche Nuancen und den Kontext weg, die in der Ausstellung selbst möglicherweise vorhanden sind. Seien wir ehrlich: Viel mehr Menschen sehen das Plakat, als dass sie das Museum tatsächlich besuchen. Und wenn auf diesem Plakat ein kulturell bedeutsames Essen wie das japanische Natto unter dem Wort „disgusting“ dargestellt wird, wird die Botschaft reduktiv und verletzend.

Jedes Land hat Speisen, die für Außenstehende ungewöhnlich oder sogar abstoßend wirken können – Deutschland eingeschlossen. Warum also wird ausgerechnet ein japanisches Gericht als Hauptmotiv ausgewählt? Es fällt schwer, diese Wahl nicht als unsensibel oder gar absichtlich provokativ zu sehen.

Als Japaner fühle ich mich persönlich beleidigt. Natto ist ein traditioneller und geschätzter Teil unserer Kultur, und es so ohne Erklärung oder Respekt zu verwenden, fühlt sich wie eine Verhöhnung von etwas an, mit dem viele von uns aufgewachsen sind und das wir noch immer lieben.

Ich fordere das Museum nachdrücklich dazu auf, sowohl den Titel als auch die visuelle Gestaltung zu überdenken. Wenn das wahre Ziel kulturelles Verständnis fördern soll, dann sendet die Darstellung von Speisen als „disgusting“ – vor allem in großformatigen, aus dem Kontext gerissenen Bildern – genau das Gegenteil aus.

Sicherlich gibt es bessere Wege, Neugier und Gespräch anzuregen. Titel wie „Curious Culinary Cultures“ würden ebenfalls Aufmerksamkeit erregen – ohne dabei die Menschen, deren Kulturen gezeigt werden, zu entfremden oder zu beleidigen.

Bitte finden Sie einen Weg, Unterschiede ohne Spott und Vielfalt ohne Respektlosigkeit zu kommunizieren. Ein durchdachterer Ansatz würde nicht nur die dargestellten Kulturen ehren, sondern die Ausstellung auch bedeutungsvoller, inklusiver und wirkungsvoller machen. The choice of the word “disgusting”—especially in the museum’s title and promotional posters—undermines that very goal.

I understand that the Disgusting Food Museum aims to explore how food preferences vary across cultures.

However, these public-facing materials strip away the nuance and context that might be present inside the exhibition. Let’s be honest: far more people will see the poster than will actually visit the museum. And when that poster features a culturally significant food like Japanese natto, labeled under the word “disgusting,” the message becomes reductive and offensive.

Every country has foods that can seem unusual or even off-putting to outsiders—Germany included. So why single out a Japanese food for the main visual? It's hard not to see that choice as insensitive, if not deliberately provocative.

As a Japanese person, I felt personally insulted. Natto is a traditional and beloved part of our culture, and seeing it used this way—without explanation or respect—felt like a mockery of something many of us grew up with and still cherish.

I strongly encourage the museum to reconsider both the title and its visual branding. If the true goal is to promote cultural understanding, then framing foods as disgusting—especially in large, decontextualized visuals—sends the opposite message.

Surely, there are better ways to invite curiosity and conversation. Titles like “Curious Culinary Cultures” would still capture attention—but without alienating or insulting the people whose cultures are being featured.

Please find a way to communicate difference without ridicule, and diversity without disrespect. A more thoughtful approach would not only honor the cultures being represented, but would also make the exhibit more meaningful, inclusive,...