The iconic “Tainted Meat” scene from The Walking Dead has been described as a lie by the comic series’ creator, Robert Kirman. The Walking Dead is loaded with iconic moments that have made it one of the most popular pieces of modern zombie media. One of the most recognizable moments is centered around Dale, who is replaced by Bob in the show’s adaptation, as he finds himself cannibalized by another band of survivors known as the Hunters. However, as he meets his fate, he reveals to them that he has been bitten, deeming himself to be “tainted meat.” Years later, this scene has since been viewed as a lie by its creator.
In The Walking Dead Deluxe #73 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, Kirkman discusses the iconic moment with a reader as part of the series’ letters to the creator segment. When asked about whether human flesh that’s been bitten by a walker can truly be deemed “tainted,” he responds, “Everyone has the virus, so tainted meat is…not giving people anything they don’t already have. So, if a person was cooked properly, I think you could safely eat them. So, Dale’s gesture was hollow.“
This is a huge blow to Dale’s last heroic moment before eventually dying at the hands of the cannibals. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that his final moments are in vain.
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Dale’s “Tainted Meat” Line Means Nothing in The Walking Dead
On the surface, it may seem disheartening to know that one of The Walking Dead‘s best moments doesn’t actually mean anything. However, when looking at where Dale is at this point in the story, his response to the cannibals could be planned. Unlike the television series, where he dies in season 2, Dale is still around in the comic when Rick gives his famous “We are the Walking Dead” speech.
This difference between the show and the comics signifies that, in the comic, Dale knows the truth about the zombie virus: everyone is already infected. When he ends up getting bitten and becomes meat for the cannibals, it’s likely these killers don’t know this important fact yet. So, Dale’s final moments ultimately play as a perfect psychological attack on them as he is dying.
Dale Potentially Saved Countless Lives With His “Tainted Meat” Moment
Despite Dale’s words being hollow, he clearly leaves an impact on the cannibals. There’s a moment where they all begin spitting up their food, realizing that the meat they are eating comes from someone who’s been bitten. Even though he knows that it is the end of the line for him, his words have a huge effect on his assailants. While they continue to be a major threat to Rick and the group during the “Fear the Hunters” arc, it’s still a valiant effort on Dale’s part to try and take as many people out with him as he can by playing with their minds and making them question their cannibalistic ways.
Overall, Dale’s final moments before his death aren’t as effective as fans originally believed them to be. Kirkman made it very clear that, because everyone is already infected by the virus, humans could consume a bitten person’s flesh and not become a zombie themselves. However, despite this major moment from The Walking Dead being a lie, it’s stood the test of time as one of the comic’s best moments.
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