Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group
| Abbreviation | HORG |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1994 Website: December 1, 2011 |
| Founder | John Daniel |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose | Parody research organisation |
| Location | |
| Website | horg.com |
The Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group (or HORG, IPA: [hɔːrɡ]) is a parody research organisation which studies bread clips (called "occlupanids" by HORG) as if they were living organisms with a focus on synthetic taxonomy. Plastic bread clips may perforate or obstruct the gastrointestinal tract, and are potentially fatal.[1] This prompted the site creator to treat the cataloguing and study of bread clips as important, as if the precise identification of bread clips could save lives.
Reception
The parody site has been noted by independent media, drawing similarities to real taxonomies, and noting how the synthetic taxonomy can assist in learning the design history of the object itself (bread clips).[2][3][4][5][6]
HORG's efforts were included in a 2018 exhibition comprising Mmuseumm's sixth season.[7] "Milk & Bread", a 2025 art and design work by Susan Goldberg, mentions HORG. It was inspired by her experience collecting and displaying bread clips before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and how their display can reflect the increased workload and repetitive domesticity put on women and especially mothers during lockdown.[8]
Terms coined by HORG have found their way into academic research.[9][10]
References
- ^ Lehmer, L. M.; Ragsdale, B. D.; Daniel, J.; Hayashi, E.; Kvalstad, R. (4 September 2011). "Plastic bag clip discovered in partial colectomy accompanying proposal for phylogenic plastic bag clip classification". BMJ Case Reports. 2011 (sep04 1): bcr0220113869. doi:10.1136/bcr.02.2011.3869. ISSN 1757-790X. PMC 3176375. PMID 22679182.
- ^ Ling, Isabel (10 September 2024). "Building a Design Taxonomy with the Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group". MOLD :: Designing the Future of Food. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Rauwerda, Annie (25 August 2022). "The utterly delightful site dedicated to classifying plastic bread tags". Input. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ Kohlstedt, Kurt (25 September 2017). "Bagged & Tagged: An Introductory Field Guide to Plastic Bread Clips". Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Critter of the Week: The occlupanid – a member of the phylum Plasticae". Earth Sciences New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Boyle, Rhianna (20 October 2014). "'Toward a Taxonomy of the Plasticae: Meeting The Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group'". The Lifted Brow. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Heller, Steven (7 May 2018). "No Pushing There's Plenty of Mmuseumm". Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Goldberg, Susan (9 May 2025). "Milk & Bread A found object collage series". Canadian Food Studies. 12 (1). doi:10.15353/cfs-rcea.v12i1.593. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ E. Rosow, David; Chen, Si (27 November 2013). Karosi, T.; Lenarz, M.; Suzuki, H. (eds.). "Office Removal of a Subglottic Bread Clip". Case Reports in Otolaryngology: 1–3. doi:10.1155/2013/480676. PMC 3860154.
- ^ E. R. Hamilton, Auerilius; A. Sebastian, Adrian; A. Harris, Craig (20 December 2017). "Quick eating caused plastic bread bag clip ingestion and severe gastrointestinal bleed in young adult: a case report". ANZ Journal of Surgery. 89 (6): E256–E258. doi:10.1111/ans.14335. PMID 29266620. Retrieved 5 February 2026.