‘Creamed possum’ quip gags readers

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is turning stomachs across the nation by suggesting that Americans serve up some “creamed possum” for Thanksgiving.

Not just any creamed opossum, but the kind that also includes a glaze of “coon fat gravy.”

State officials made the horrifying suggestion Tuesday to 152,000 Facebook followers, some of whom were clearly dumbstruck.

“Is this even real,” asked Charles Goulette.

The answer is yes … and no.

“Creamed Possum in Coon Fat Gravy Garnished with Sweet Potatoes” is available at $6.49 a can on eBay and Amazon.com, but it’s a gag product credited to the “Dept of Highways Roadkill Division.” The ingredients are not listed, other than to say it “nothing edible.”

Still, the wildlife department’s post seemed believable, given it is well known for posting photos of things most people only see dead in the road.

It also appeared just a week after a Harris Poll listed all the things Americans find disgusting about Thanksgiving food, with green bean casserole and canned cranberry sauce dubbed the worst of the worst.

However, it appears Americans would still rather eat green bean casserole than opossum, based on reaction to the Facebook post.

“Just shoot me if I had to eat that,” posted David Brown.

“Makes my mouth water … .not in a good way!” said John Mayer.

“Sounds like something Granny would conjure up on ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’,” said Deb Douglas Toothaker.