Insects for Dinner

Column #391 February 24, 2023 Chocolate-Covered Ants

Okay, okay—eating bugs is not new. It’s absolutely not based on recent “woke thinking.” Humans have been eating insects for millions of years. Even as a kid, around 70 years ago, I remember seeing cans of chocolate-covered ants for sale in a store. And that wasn’t all. The Reese Brand, which still exists to this day, at one time offered fried butterflies, chocolate-covered south American ants, canned hornets, fried baby bees, and roasted caterpillars plus other offerings.^{1 2 3}

If you search Amazon, you’ll find scores of edible insect offerings! In addition to chocolate-covered ants there are caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, silk worms, scorpions, beetles, flying termites, tarantula spiders, sago worms, and more! Obviously the idea of eating insects is alive and well—plus the producers are thriving.⁴

Mostly the products I’ve found in North America are food novelties and snacks. But that’s changing because on the Internet you’ll find recipes for insect-based dishes. Worldwide, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, at least two billion people eat bugs and there are more than 2,000 identified edible species. To take advantage of this market there are quite a few companies around the world that have geared up for serious insect (food) production. There is no question that insects are good sources of protein and the price per pound (pure cricket flour is about $30 per pound) versus other protein sources will have a big bearing on acceptability. But there is already a large established market for edible insects.⁵

In spite of the fact that most Americans think that eating bugs is revolting, we all have been eating bugs over the years. The FDA Defect Levels Handbook admits there are certain "natural and unavoidable defects" in foods which are not a threat to humans. That’s why macaroni and cheese products may contain as many as 225 insect fragments per 225 grams. Frozen broccoli may contain an average of 60 aphids or mites per 100 grams. Imported olives, peanuts, and a variety of spices including ginger, allspice and black pepper all allow a certain amount of insect fragments. The FDA refers to these bug parts as “filth.” Maybe in time they will drop that word from their manual.⁶

In terms of ingesting toxins from eating bugs, there are some bees and certain kinds of ants that produce toxins in order to ward off predators. Depending on the dose of course, any toxin can be dangerous when consumed. Some beetles carry a metabolic steroid which can result in growth retardation, infertility, or the masculinization of females if it is consumed too frequently. But it’s highly unlikely these types of insects will be selected for commercial insect production.

When it comes to dining on insects a little common sense goes a long way:
●   Know that your insect source is reputable.
●   Do not eat raw insects.
●   Never eat just any insect that crosses your path. It may kill you.
●   Take note that some insects can cause allergic reactions similar to shellfish.

In terms of nutrition, bugs are a healthy food source that’s a highly nutritious source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, fiber, and minerals with low carbohydrates. It’s also known that voracious grass eaters, such as crickets and grasshoppers, can have excellent Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratios. Over all the nutrition ratios of most insects are quite good and they compete with animal meats. To me that ranks insects above fruits and vegetables!^{7 8}

Worldwide there are probably hundreds if not thousands of companies in the edible insect business. I have listed just a few of them in North America and Europe that have been around for from five to ten years already.
●   All Things Bugs⁹
●   Entomo Farms¹⁰
●   Bitty Foods¹¹
●   Chapul Farms¹²
●   Chirps Chips¹³
●   Cricket Flours¹⁴
●   Crunchy Critters¹⁵
●   Eat Grub¹⁶
●   JR Unique Foods¹⁷
●   MerciMercado¹⁸
●   Ynsec Corporation^{19 20}
●   Innovafeed²¹

There is no question that edible insects are not going away. In fact, insect-based foods may gain a foothold in North America and Europe and be way more popular than fake meats. Insects are far more nutritious than the fake veggie burgers and, instead of being fake, they are real. But, for certain, insects will never replace the flavor, texture, and juiciness of beef, chicken, pork, lamb, goat, and other animal products. And it might take decades before eating insects is more affordable.²²

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

1. For Most People, Eating Bugs Is Only Natural by Sharon Guynup from National Geographic

2. The History of Reese Finer Foods from World Finer Foods

3. 1950s Opening Decades-Old Canned Reese CHOCOLATE COVERED ANTS

4. Edible Bugs from Amazon

5. 20 Delicious Bug Recipes from Chefs by Mandy Oaklander from TIME USA

6. Food Defect Levels Handbook by Food and Drug Administration

7. Beef vs. Bugs: Which is most nutritious? by Tim Newman from Medical News Today

8. Nutritional Values and Functional Properties of Crickets by Natteewan Udomsil, et al.

9. All Things Bugs Is an Innovator in the Insect Industry

10. Entomo Farms Makes Cricket-based Foods

11. Bitty Foods Makes Healthy Snacks with Cricket Flour