Is the next foodie fad… crickets?!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying, CRUNCHY!
Protein is part of a healthy diet. However, meat can be expensive, and raising livestock uses lots of resources. Insects are more sustainable, BUT… are people willing to EAT BUGS?
Marta Ros-Baró and team from the Open University of Catalonia investigated.
They surveyed over one thousand adults from Spain.
Most had never eaten bugs, and were NOT willing to. However, knowing insects could be a sustainable source of protein increased willingness overall. Participants also found eating bugs more acceptable if they’re unrecognizable – think ground into flour, to make cockroach cakes and cookies!
Who was most open to chomping down some arthropods? Adults between forty and fifty-nine! Gen X! Over half of all participants believed that we WILL eat bugs in the future!
The research says insects can produce more food, take less space, and reduce greenhouse gas!
So forget the steakhouse; take me to the roach motel! Or Red Lobster.
Reference:
Ros-Baró, M., Sánchez-Socarrás, V., Santos-Pagès, M., Bach-Faig, A., & Aguilar-Martínez, A. (2022). Consumers’ Acceptability and Perception of Edible Insects as an Emerging Protein Source. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), Article 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315756