You Eat Approx. 1 lb of Bugs a Year (Unintentionally)

Q: Knowing this, how do people out there feel? Would you rather not know?

"'It's estimated that the average human eats one pound (half a kilogram) of insects each year unintentionally,' says Lisa Monachelli, director of youth and family programs at New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut.

Cochineal insects give a red or pink coloring to foods, lipsticks, and beverages. The small, scaled bugs are listed as cochineal extract on the ingredient list.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also allows certain levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods, as long as they doesn't pose a health risk.

For example, chocolate can have up to 60 insect fragments per 100 grams, tomato sauce can contain 30 fly eggs per 100 grams, and peanut butter can have 30 insect fragments per 100 grams (3.5 ounces), according to the FDA. "

This excerpt was taken from the Bugs as Food: Humans Bite Back article.

You can check out the FDA's regulation here:
Food Defect Action Levels: Levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods that present no health hazards for humans

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."

Insect Eating Promoted Video

Photo courtesy of nationalgeographic.com

Defne is awesome and sent this me this video: Insect Eating Promoted

There was actually a 3 day workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand where international researchers and experts attended to discuss the use of insects in the human diet. The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) experts say despite their appearance, they are highly nutritious and some may have the same amount of protein as meat and fish.

The video also touches on topics such as modernization and Western attitudes on eating insects.

The Chiang Mai french fries look good!

Mac & Worms

Super tired after class, so I threw together a quick dinner. I wanted something a little more nutritious than just plain mac n cheese, so I threw in some protein. Almost no preparation was needed. I froze the worms while the mac was boiling, and by the time the mac was finished, the worms were ready to be taken out of the freezer and cooked. Instead of making worm flour this time, I decided to try dicing them instead.I used Trader Joe's Organic Shells and White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese and sauteed some garlic, onion, basil, parsley, pepper, and superworms.

The superworms didn't taste like much since the garlic was overpowering. The texture reminded me of the popped kernel skins (you know, the thin tan-colored parts that get stuck in your teeth) when you eat popcorn. That, or onion skin...sorry, those are the best ways I can describe it. You'll have to try them yourself! YUM!

Time Magazine Article

Photo courtesy of Time.com

"...entomophagy...could also be a far greener way to get protein than eating chicken, cows or pigs. With the global livestock sector responsible for 18% of the world's greenhouse-gas emissions and grain prices reaching record highs, cheap, environmentally low-impact insects could be the food of the future--provided we can stomach them."

Eating Bugs Article
Thursday, May. 29, 2008
Health & Science / Going Green section

Don't miss the "How to Cook a Bug" video with David George Gordon at the end of the article!

Also, check out the Bug Cuisine photo essay.

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I Got Worms

I finally got mealworms! I got these from the Animal Connection in the Sunset. They were 100 for $3 and come in a container of bran, which I later dumped all 6 containers in a larger plastic container. They're smaller and softer than the superworms I have already. Mealworms aren't as high maintenance as the superworms when it comes to rearing cause they don't need to be separated to pupate (like the picture below).I upgraded from large random containers to a more compact superworm cubical, which makes it easier to handle.