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Well, maybe if they’re ranch flavored…
Edible insects? If you have ever watched the show Survivor, you would know exactly how humans have reacted to having to eat insects. But, are insects soon to be a key ingredient in avoiding a global food crisis?
With a rapidly changing climate and expansion of global population, food security is becoming risky. Edible insects offer a high nutritional value as well as lowering the carbon footprint compared to meat. It is widely believed that these insects offer a reliable source of protein that could sustain human beings. This method, however, is not currently catching on in Western countries.
Researchers feel that in order for this to work, the commercialization as well as the processing techniques needs to be focused on the younger generation. Right now, consuming insects is not considered normal, even though over two billion people around the globe regularly eat them today.
In some European countries, young adults have been interested in new food products that use insects, but in an un-recognizable form. This form typically comes in flour, so if you can’t taste it, but know it is producing positive effects, what’s the harm?
Currently, insects are being promoted as snacks in between meals. This would increase the inclusion of insects into people’s daily diet. With the taste being satisfying to the consumer, snacks are becoming more and more popular.
One fear is that as insects become more and more common to people’s diet, the farming industry will not be able to keep up with the demand. But, the hope is that insects will be able to replace some of the functional ingredients in our food to help in supplying our protein source.
