Lithophagy
Ingestion of stones
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Discussion
Stones are found ingested by many animals. These called gastroliths.[4] In many cases the reason for this is unknown. Stones may be ingested to grind food or to serve as a ballast for aquatic animals.[5]
Walter Henry Medhurst describes a practice of "eating stones" in 19th-century China[6] and Brian S-K Li reported eating of stones as a literary trope in late imperial China (ca. 1550–1800).[7]
A streed food fad of fried stones called suodiu or suodui (嗦丢) as reported in China in 2023.[8]