It is quality true in terms of our beliefs and representations. The food that one absorbs is, universally it seems, supposed to act either on the state of the organism or on its very nature (essence, identity?), by analogical contamination, integration or impregnation. Popular wisdom often takes it for granted that absorption, especially when repeated, of a particular food granted that absorption, especially when repeated, of a particular food tends to transfer certain characteristics of the food analogically to the eater: thus, red meat blood, gives strength and, for French eaters for instance, turnips induce “spinelessness” (sang de navet---- “turnip blood”).