Although the idea of consuming beetles, caterpillars, and ants may be unsettling, the authors of a recently published U.N. report suggest that the health advantages of eating nutritious insects could aid in the fight against obesity.
Across the globe, more than 1,900 insect species are consumed, particularly in Africa and Asia, yet individuals in the West generally look down upon options like grasshoppers, termites, and other crunch-worthy treats.
According to researchers from the Forestry Department of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), numerous insects contain protein and mineral levels comparable to meat and offer healthier fats recommended by medical professionals for a balanced diet.
“There is a cultural bias in the West, leading people to believe that insects, originating from developing nations, are not beneficial,” noted Arnold van Huis, a scientist from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and one of the report’s authors.
Eva Muller from the FAO pointed out that European restaurants are beginning to introduce insect-based dishes, branding them as exotic culinary delights for customers.
For instance, Noma, a Danish restaurant that was voted the world’s best for three consecutive years in a certain survey, is famous for utilizing ingredients like ants and fermented grasshoppers.
In addition to playing a role in the expensive struggle against obesity, which the World Health Organization estimates has nearly doubled since 1980 and impacts approximately 500 million individuals, the report indicated that insect farming is likely to require less land than traditional livestock and emit fewer greenhouse gases.
Furthermore, it could present business and export prospects for impoverished individuals in developing nations, particularly women who frequently take on the responsibility of gathering insects in rural areas.
Van Huis mentioned that the obstacles to savoring dishes such as bee larvae yogurt are largely psychological – during a blind taste test conducted by his team, 90% of participants preferred meatballs composed of about half meat and half mealworms over those made entirely from meat.
