eli5 why are sardine bones edible while most other fish bones can harm you if you eat them?

Question

eli5 why are sardine bones edible while most other fish bones can harm you if you eat them?

In: Biology

Answer 1

All bones are edible – some people like to eat chicken bones. The issue with fish bones is that they’re very small and very sharp and can injure the oesophagus if swallowed.

Sardine bones though, are hair-thin and very soft and so much less likely to be capable of piercing your throat, and you can just chew through them without issue when the fresh fish is cooked. If they’re canned, even the spine becomes so soft it crumbles to the touch, so it’s a non-issue.