If you travel to see psychological horror classicSilence of the Lambsin the theaters and wondered why Hannibal Lecter ’s most famous note in the movie get a astonishingly loud guffaw from the person in the interview who was wearing full scrubs , it turns out that ’s because it was a very obscure aesculapian joke .
First , the most celebrated line of the film , " hello Clarice , " is n’t actually in the film .
See .
That descent is anexample of the " Mandela Effect " , or a stack misremembering of an event or piece of art . However , the 2nd most famous crease , " I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti , " does actually come out in the film , and it ’s this that had the medical professionals grinning .
Lecter – whose backstory includes him being a forensic psychiatrist – likely chose those food specifically because it is recommend to forfend them if you are on a class of strong anti - depressants known asmonoamine oxidase inhibitors ( MAOIs ) .
Liver , fava attic , and wine-coloured – specifically Chianti ( as well as vermouth ) – are food for thought that need to be avoided if you are on MAOIs due to the presence of tyramine within them .
" eat solid food with in high spirits tyramine can set off a reaction that can have serious result , " apaper on the topic reads .
" Patients should know that tyramine can increase with the aging of nutrient ; they should be encourage to have fresh solid food instead of leftovers or food fain hours earlier . instance of high level of tyramine in food are types of fish and type of nitty-gritty , include sausage , turkey , liver , and salami . Also , certain yield can hold tyramine , like overripe fruits , aguacate , bananas , raisins , or figs . Further deterrent example are high mallow , intoxicant , and fava edible bean ; all of these should be avoided even after two weeks of stopping MAOIs .
" Anyone taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor is at risk for an untoward hypertensive response , with accompanying morbidity . "
The joke , assuggested by mrcchapman on Reddit , was not mean to bring the house down , but was likely a reference to the fact that he was either off his medication when he take the taboo meat , or that he was misusing his medication .
" Lecter is a ) cracking a joke for his own entertainment , and b ) saying he ’s not taking his MEd , " mrcchapman wrote .
As for why he chose Chianti and fava beans specifically , it ’s probably because it sounds more pleasing than " I ate his kidney with some overripe avocados , raisin , and salami . "
