Bugging To Eat; Everything To Know About Entomophagy

Eating bugs only happens in books, television shows, dares, and when Bear Grylls is stuck in the wilderness for extended periods with little or nothing to eat. Right? Not exactly. Eating insects - formally known as entomophagy - is a big part of many peoples diets across the planet, and it has been for thousands of years.

It may seem weird and gross, but it is more common than you might think. Nearly one-third of the world’s population is reliant on bugs as a portion of their healthy diet due to the accessibility, sustainability, and loads of nutrients in just a handful of Jiminy Crickets.

A Brief History Of Entomophagy

It has been said the history of eating insects began sometime around 10,000 BC and they were seen as both a staple food, as well as a delicacy. But as agricultural practices advanced, entomophagy changed with it. Some cultures continued to use insects as a source of food while others began to perceive them as pests that ruined their crops.

In ancient Greece cicadas were classified a luxury snack, even Aristotle spoke about the delicacy of the cicadas, and in ancient Rome, the Romans believed the beetle larvae to be gourmet food.

Entomophagy also made an appearance in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, calling rabbits, pigs, pelicans, mice, turtles, and weasels off-limits for human consumption while granting permission to eat locusts, beetles, and grasshoppers.

Now that you know the brief history of entomophagy, keep reading to learn about how entomophagy is practiced in the modern world.

Modern Entomophagy

The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) claims over two billion of the world’s population eats insects, most of which being in tropical climates. Although entomophagy is popular in Mexico and parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, in recent years it has grown into parts of the Western world along with curiosity.

It may seem as though the only time people eat bugs are when they are dared to on reality shows such as Survivor or Fear Factor, but more bugs are consumed in Northern America than one might assume. In red lipsticks and red candies, a common ingredient is cochineal, which is an insect from South America used for red dyes. Aside from dares and sweets, more and more insects are being used in protein bars and ground into a powder to make flour for all sorts of baked goodies.

So grab a protein bar and keep on reading to learn what kind of benefits are found in the world of entomophagy.