Bugs as Food: Humans Bite Back Article

Bugs as Food: Humans Bite Back
By Maryann Mott
for National Geographic News
April 16, 2004

Didn't mean to post another one from National Geographic, but I thought this one was pretty interesting. The article talks about how more people in America, including the young generation, are being educated and more open to trying insects. It also mentions the likeliness of humans adopting insects as a source of protein in the future.

"Today, U.S. children are not as squeamish about bugs as their parents, thanks to nature centers, museums, and zoos throughout the country that frequently teach school programs about insects as food sources.

Older students are learning about entomophagy too. About 12 insect festivals are held each year, like the Bug Bowl at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The popular festival started in 1990 and attracts more than 10,000 people. Besides munching on chocolate-covered crickets, visitors can go to an insect petting zoo, cockroach race, or cricket-spitting contest.

Most Americans don't intentionally make insects a part of their diet. But in the future they might. As more strain is put on natural resources, some experts say, insects will be raised as an alternative form of protein."