Bugs on the Menu.

Steve - a fascinating story in a recent issue of the New Yorker made a strong impression on me. I was unaware that 80% of the world consumes insects as part of their diet. I was also fascinated by how insects are starting to take hold in the United States. There is even a company, Entom Foods, headed by a University of Chicago student, trying to make protein filets out of insects. Could there be an insect protein revolution (entomophagy) on the way?

• In the early 1940s, insects were considered exotic delicacies in the US. The fascination only lasted about 10 years.
  
• Many cutting-edge chefs are currently incorporating insect protein into many of their signature dishes.
• Fourth-fifths of the animal species on earth are insects.
• Insects are cold-blooded so they convert food into meat much faster than warm blooded animals, which makes them a small foodprint compared to any other protein source, including plants.
  
• Insects such as grasshoppers have four times as many micronutrients as our usual animal protein sources.
• Because of genetic differences, there is much less risk of diseases jumping species.
• Insects are natural recyclers because they can eat almost anything.
• Insects also thrive in what we consider inhumane conditions.
• Because of Westerner's psychological issues with eating insects, food manufacturers are coming up with creative ways to combat this: insect flour, change the names of the insects to something more appealing, pulling the head, eyes, and wings off the bug, making it into filets, etc.
  
• Many humans, such as West Africans, eat insects to avoid protein deficiency sickness.
• Insects likely to be the most popular: grasshoppers, worms.
• We eat insects every day without knowing it. The FDA allows acceptable levels of bugs in our processed foods. They call it "aesthetic". A food is not considered contaminated until it has over 50 aphids, thrips, or mites per hundred grams.
  
• We also eat insects in our fresh vegetables without knowing it.

Given the aforementioned, would you be open to incorporating insect protein into your diet? Please leave your comments below.