Eating Insects: Good for You and The World

[Peasie]

USA Today reports, "Edible insects are being promoted as a low-fat, high-protein food for people, pets and livestock. According to the U.N., they come with appetizing side benefits: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and livestock pollution, creating jobs in developing countries and feeding the millions of hungry people in the world."


This is the image that accompanies the article:

<image deleted by Peasie>

I see shrimp

[Suesumba]

isn't there enuff stuff to eat already without resorting to this?

most of the critters appear fried

[Peasie]

We in the so-called western world may find this disgusting and wonder if people are resorting to eating insects because they have no other food.

But this is a stereotypical view. For many countries, insects are part of traditional dishes or even delicacies. From the FAO, "The western attitude that eating insects is primitive or a barbarity has not encouraged developing countries to place it high on the agenda of development assistance. Consequently western donors neglect insects as a possible food source. In fact through urbanization in developing countries, western lifestyles are often copied, discouraging the practice."

The use of insects as food has many environmental, health, and economic benefits. From an FAO publication I learned that insects:

• Provide high-quality protein and nutrients compared with meat and fish.
• Are particularly important as a food supplement for undernourished children because most insect species are high in fatty acids (comparable with fish).
• Are rich in fiber and micronutrients such as copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, selenium and zinc.
• Pose a low risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) such as like H1N1 (bird flu) and BSE (mad cow disease).

[kia027]

and let's not forget the once in every 17 year delicacies- the cicadas

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/04/-swarms-of-cicada-nymphs.html

[Peasie]

most of the critters appear fried

I bet they taste better that way. A little beer batter and you won't know the difference between cicadas and shrimp

[Suesumba]

o my stomack - the visuals. i'm throwing up inside my mouth thinking of them being double pan steamed

i'd rather gnaw my own leg off in time of starvation rather than eat bugs