For those folks who love the taste of seafood but hate all the trouble of fishing it from the ocean, one recently unveiled invention in China has a cruelly-convenient solution -- a vending machine that dispenses crabs, guaranteed to be alive or your next meal is free! That's right, for around $1.50 you can now buy a living, breathing snack with the same ease normally reserved for the purchase of a can of soda or a bag of chips, perfect if you're on the run or need a quick bite in a pinch.
Shanghai Hairy Crabs are currently being sold from the morally bankrupt vending machines in subways stops in Nanjing, China, for between $1.50 and $7.50, based on the weight of the crustaceans. If a customer is unfortunate enough to wind up with a crab that failed to survive its cruel confinement, the company that supplies the machines promises a reimbursement of not one, not two, but three living animals for them to munch on.
According to a report from the Japan Probe, the crabs are stored in plastic containers inside the machine and chilled to temperature of around 41°F. When the animals are cooled, says the manufacturer, they enter a state of hibernation -- but worry not, they'll wake right up shortly after being dispensed.
If the machines appear to catch on with the crab-loving subway commuters, the inventor says he plans on expanding on his idea into other countries. Perhaps what the world needs instead, however, is a vending machine that dispenses a bit of decency. After all, shouldn't consuming living things be a little less convenient?
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