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How can we get rid of the "yuck" factor around eating insects?
TheTruth1983
Posts: 13,462 Forum Member
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We know that insects are a cheap and plentiful source of protein but when anyone suggests that we should eat more of them, the suggestion is met with a chorus of "yuck", "gross", "that's disgusting" and other such comments.
Back in the hunter/gatherer days, insects were regularly eaten as they were plentiful and easy to catch. Many countries around the world still eat insects and have actually created culinary delicacies from them.
So why are we so snobbish about the idea when they are a great, inexpensive, green, nutritious source of the protein? And how can we end that snobbery?
Back in the hunter/gatherer days, insects were regularly eaten as they were plentiful and easy to catch. Many countries around the world still eat insects and have actually created culinary delicacies from them.
So why are we so snobbish about the idea when they are a great, inexpensive, green, nutritious source of the protein? And how can we end that snobbery?
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We have a plentiful supply of more appetising foodstuffs so basically don't need to eat bugs.
We are constantly being told about growing poverty though so I reckon a cheap and plentiful food source like insects are a good way to alleviate that poverty.
If you farm insects, then those insects have got to eat something themselves....you see?
I'd propose the same solution as adopted towards a vegetarian's "yuck" factor around eating meat.
Those who are happy to eat insects do so.
Those who aren't happy don't.
Saw a programme last year last year about it, though it was more concentrating on SE Asia where they already do eat insects. Basically insects convert vegetation to protein far more efficiently than mammals/birds. We need to eat protein and this seems to be a good way to convert plants to protein.
I'd give them a go - can't see they are much different to prawns really.
I'd prefer a veggie burger personally.
You can invest in this business -
http://www.insecteurope.com/
In particular they aim to farm grasshoppers and crickets and turn them into flour.
The vision:
"In the future, Insect Europe BV will become the world's leading edible insect producer, and become the hub of edible insect culture."
They list restaurants where you can eat insects, including one in London with a menu including chocolate covered locusts, a salad with weaver ants and other bugs, ice cream including a baby bee:o, and pan-fried crickets.
if insects could feed off waste vegetation like hay, then it could work.
But the question is why is the "yuck" factor here in the West? We happily eat prawns, lobsters and crabs in the West, but crustaceans and insects are very closely related, in fact they both sit in the Pancrustacea clade in evolutionary terms, so there's not that much difference between eating a prawn and a locust really. We consider spiders and insects to be 'creepy crawlies' but arachnids are far more distantly related to insects. I suppose it's just a cultural thing, logic doesn't really come into it.
What a ridiculous post! Elevenses at half past ten!
I think if they were killed, cleaned and then cooked, we might then not be so 'yuk' about eating them. I draw the line at worms though. I think I'd have to eat them quickly in order to get them down uncooked, unless they tasted okay, or even okay-ish.
In Thailand I saw people selling grubs by the side of the road - looked like they were quickly stirfried in a wok. I never tried them (nor the locusts they also had) as I never saw anyone else actually eat any so wasn't sure if it was a local delicacy or a tourist trap. Pity as I would like to give 'em a go.
They're usually a by-product of other farming.
The farmers use a variety of methods (everything from dishes of paraffin to high-tech bug-zappers) to keep the insects away from their crops and then empty the bug-traps at the end of each day, pan-fry whatever they've caught and flog 'em on the side of the road.
Any that they sell are just extra revenue.
They take half an hour to catch.
I believe they do similar things in certain parts of India too!
https://edibug.wordpress.com/list-of-edible-insects/