[That this guy could eat---let alone taste---was surprising, but the vehemence in his reaction to the idea it might be otherwise was every bit as unexpected.]

Oh. Duly noted. Shows I shouldn't assume anything.

[Sam pauses, weighing the words, but then shrugs and nods an acknowledgement.]

That makes pretty solid sense, actually. 'To eat is to appropriate by destruction,' and what's consequently destroyed can't be appropriated by anybody else, not in any worthwhile way. Normally.

[She nods.]

If the basic necessities are available, yeah.