Eyewitness Loses Her Mind As New York Man Snacks On A Street Rat: 'They Do Not Pay Me Enough'

When you think you have seen it all, New York City gives you a wake-up call with a bizarre afternoon snack.

A rare occurrence in the Big Apple that never sleeps has most likely left an eyewitness traumatized for life as they watched a man munch on a rat from the sidewalk.

The New York rat-eating man is the latest one from a trend of people who have shockingly taken an interest in feeding on seemingly toxic and non-consumable stuff, including packing peanuts!

The over one minute long video captured the man dressed down in an all black ensemble nibbling at an object in his hands. The mystery man paired his look with a blue face cap and a pair of Crocs with gloves as he held the street rat in his hands and observed it for a few minutes.

Bewildered behind the phone, the commentator shared the street number on "3rd Avenue" and urged viewers to take a look at the situation. "This is f-cking unbelievable, look at this sh-t, nah, I gotta get out the Bronx," the eyewitness declared. 

She wondered what the next step the man would take with the rat he held in his hands, and shortly after, the man proceeded to take a bite. As the man went in for another big bite, it prompted a loud squeal from the recorder, who lamented:

"He ate it, he f-cking ate it…. He ate it. This is it, he f-cking ate it. They don't paying me enough, this is crazy,"

Passersby in the clip ultimately minded their business. The scene, however, caught the attention of some construction workers in the background who glanced briefly and carried on with their day.

Feasting on a street rat is one thing, but feasting on a street rat in its raw form is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience, and social media users are going crazy over the clip.

One commenter politicized the event and wrote: "tRump's America." Another X user promptly countered him: "Oh definitely. On January 20th at 12 noon, this guy lost his job, his house, and his car."

"A sad sad culture and situation. The USA certainly isn't what we describe it as.  Pain in my mind," wrote this concerned social media user.

These two commenters referenced Trump's viral campaign speech about people eating cats. One stated: "Now they're eating the Rats. Trump was Right." The second user wrote, "So it's not just cats! And people didn't believe President Trump."

Recently, The Blast also reported a concerning trend that also gained traction on TikTok, where users are consuming biodegradable packing peanuts, mistakenly believing they are edible. 

This peculiar behavior began in 2024, with online shoppers sharing their experiences of munching on the foam-like peanuts, which they claim dissolve in the mouth, making them seem safe to eat. 

The trend was reignited when a beauty enthusiast posted a now-viral (but deleted) TikTok video asking, "Did anyone know that Lush packing peanuts are edible?" before casually popping one into her mouth, prompting health experts to express their concern over this misperception.

The personal care brand Lush has adopted "eco-flo chips," environmentally friendly packing materials made from potato starch. Unlike traditional foam packing peanuts, these chips are designed to dissolve in water and soil, helping to reduce waste.

Dr. Larissa L. Garth, a health expert, explained that potato starch may benefit hormonal health, such as promoting a sense of fullness after meals, which could aid in weight loss.

However, she emphasizes that these packing materials are not for human consumption. This topic's trend has raised concerns, leading TikTok to remove some related content from its platform to mitigate risks.

Not all packing peanuts are created equal, with many companies now opting for biodegradable alternatives instead of traditional styrofoam. 

While styrofoam is not toxic, it does not decompose in the body and may remain intact if ingested, posing a risk of choking if lodged in the esophagus.

Conversely, newer packing peanuts made from biodegradable materials are designed to be compostable or recyclable, offering a more sustainable option. A simple test to identify biodegradable packing peanuts is to place them under running water; they will dissolve, whereas styrofoam will not.

However, this does not mean the biodegradable ones are edible. That they dissolve around water does not mean stomach acids are potent enough to break them down.

What would have been your reaction to seeing the New York man eat a rat from the street?