diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index da2f4d7..a67bab5 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ end
 ## Parsing incoming documents
 
 In `#create` and `#update` actions it is often necessary to parse the incoming representation and map it to a model instance. Use the `#consume!` method for this.
+The client must provide `Content-Type` request header with proper MIME type to let `#consume!` know what kind of parser it should use.
 
 ```ruby
 class SingersController < ApplicationController
@@ -143,17 +144,22 @@ class SingersController < ApplicationController
 end
 ```
 
-The `consume!` call will roughly do the following.
+If content type is set to `application/xml` the `consume!` call will roughly do the following.
 
 ```ruby
 singer.
   extend(SingerRepresenter)
-  from_json(request.body)
+  from_xml(request.body)
 ```
 
-So, `#consume!` helps you figuring out the representer module and reading the incoming document.
+So, `#consume!` helps you figuring out the representer module and reading the incoming document. It also chooses
+parser according to content type header provided in request.
 
-Note that it respects settings from `#represents`. It uses the same mechanics known from `#respond_with` to choose a representer.
+It is important to provide known content type in request. If content type is missing or not supported by the responder then
+`#consume!` will raise an exception `Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions::UnsupportedMediaType`. Unless you rescue the exception
+the action will stop and respond with HTTP status `406 Unsupported Media Type`.
+
+Note that `#consume!` respects settings from `#represents`. It uses the same mechanics known from `#respond_with` to choose a representer.
 
 ```ruby
 consume!(singer, :represent_with => MusicianRepresenter)
diff --git a/lib/roar/rails/controller_additions.rb b/lib/roar/rails/controller_additions.rb
index 4dc146d..bf4e30d 100644
--- a/lib/roar/rails/controller_additions.rb
+++ b/lib/roar/rails/controller_additions.rb
@@ -23,11 +23,30 @@ def represents(format, options)
     end
 
 
+    class UnsupportedMediaType < StandardError #:nodoc:
+    end
+
+
     def consume!(model, options={})
-      format      = formats.first  # FIXME: i expected request.content_mime_type to do the job. copied from responder.rb. this will return the wrong format when the controller responds to :json and :xml and the Content-type is :xml (?)
+      content_type = request.content_type
+      if content_type.nil?
+        raise UnsupportedMediaType.new("Cannot consume input without content type.")
+      end
+
+      format = Mime::Type.lookup(content_type).try(:symbol)
+
+      unless format
+        raise UnsupportedMediaType.new("Cannot consume unregistered media type '#{content_type}'")
+      end
+
+      parsing_method = compute_parsing_method(format)
       representer = prepare_model_for(format, model, options)
 
-      representer.send(compute_parsing_method(format), incoming_string, options) # e.g. from_json("...")
+      if parsing_method && !representer.respond_to?(parsing_method)
+        raise UnsupportedMediaType.new("Cannot consume unsupported media type '#{content_type}'")
+      end
+
+      representer.send(parsing_method, incoming_string, options) # e.g. from_json("...")
       model
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/roar/rails/railtie.rb b/lib/roar/rails/railtie.rb
index 43652a4..b3cf116 100644
--- a/lib/roar/rails/railtie.rb
+++ b/lib/roar/rails/railtie.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ module Rails
     class Railtie < ::Rails::Railtie
       config.representer = ActiveSupport::OrderedOptions.new
 
+      rescue_responses = config.action_dispatch.rescue_responses || ActionDispatch::ShowExceptions.rescue_responses #newer or fallback to 3.0
+      rescue_responses.merge!(
+          'Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions::UnsupportedMediaType' => :unsupported_media_type
+      )
+
       initializer "roar.set_configs" do |app|
         ::Roar::Representer.module_eval do
           include app.routes.url_helpers
diff --git a/test/consume_test.rb b/test/consume_test.rb
index 585718f..31345fb 100644
--- a/test/consume_test.rb
+++ b/test/consume_test.rb
@@ -16,11 +16,25 @@ class ConsumeTest < ActionController::TestCase
   tests UnnamespaceSingersController
 
   test "#consume parses incoming document and updates the model" do
-    post :consume_json, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}", :format => 'json'
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
+    post :consume_json, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}"
     assert_equal %{#<struct Singer name="Bumi">}, @response.body
   end
 end
 
+class ConsumeHalWithNoHalRespondTest < ActionController::TestCase
+  include Roar::Rails::TestCase
+
+  tests UnnamespaceSingersController
+
+  test "#consume parses hal document and updates the model" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json+hal'
+    assert_raises Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions::UnsupportedMediaType do
+      post :consume_json, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}"
+    end
+  end
+end
+
 class ConsumeWithConfigurationTest < ActionController::TestCase
   include Roar::Rails::TestCase
 
@@ -44,9 +58,52 @@ def consume_json
   tests SingersController
 
   test "#consume uses ConsumeWithConfigurationTest::MusicianRepresenter to parse incoming document" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
     post :consume_json, %{{"called":"Bumi"}}, :format => :json
     assert_equal %{#<struct Singer name="Bumi">}, @response.body
   end
+
+  test "#do not consume missing content type" do
+    assert_raises Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions::UnsupportedMediaType do
+      post :consume_json, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}"
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  test "#do not consume parses unknown content type" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/custom+json'
+    assert_raises Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions::UnsupportedMediaType do
+      post :consume_json, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}"
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+class ConsumeHalTest < ActionController::TestCase
+  include Roar::Rails::TestCase
+
+  module MusicianRepresenter
+    include Roar::Representer::JSON::HAL
+    property :name
+  end
+
+
+  class SingersController < ActionController::Base
+    include Roar::Rails::ControllerAdditions
+    represents :hal, :entity => MusicianRepresenter
+
+    def consume_hal
+      singer = consume!(Singer.new)
+      render :text => singer.inspect
+    end
+  end
+
+  tests SingersController
+
+  test "#consume parses HAL document and updates the model" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json+hal'
+    post :consume_hal, "{\"name\": \"Bumi\"}"
+    assert_equal %{#<struct Singer name="Bumi">}, @response.body
+  end
 end
 
 class ConsumeWithOptionsOverridingConfigurationTest < ActionController::TestCase
@@ -66,6 +123,7 @@ def consume_json
   tests SingersController
 
   test "#consume uses #represents config to parse incoming document" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
     post :consume_json, %{{"called":"Bumi"}}, :format => :json
     assert_equal %{#<struct Singer name="Bumi">}, @response.body
   end
@@ -73,6 +131,7 @@ def consume_json
 
 class RequestBodyStringTest < ConsumeTest
   test "#read rewinds before reading" do
+    @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
     @request.instance_eval do
       def body
         incoming = super
diff --git a/test/responder_test.rb b/test/responder_test.rb
index 079e6fa..c5a4505 100644
--- a/test/responder_test.rb
+++ b/test/responder_test.rb
@@ -282,6 +282,8 @@ class MusicianController < BaseController
     test "parsing uses decorating representer" do # FIXME: move to controller_test.
       created_singer = nil
 
+      @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
+
       put singer.to_json do
         created_singer = consume!(Singer.new)
         respond_with created_singer
@@ -325,6 +327,8 @@ class MusicianController < BaseController
     test "passes options in #consume!" do
       created_singer = nil
 
+      @request.env['CONTENT_TYPE'] = 'application/json'
+
       put singer.to_json do
         created_singer = consume!(Singer.new, :title => "Mr.")
         respond_with created_singer