Serious question: Why not eat insects?

Question

This has come up from a video I've watched, and the arguments that were in favour of eating more insects were very interesting to me. Now, I understand that the idea of eating insects grosses out some, but hear me out. There ARE benefits to eating them. This is long! So if you don't want to read, there are other questions to answer, lol.

There are around one thousand species of insects that are being eaten all around the world. That is an enormous variety, and a hell of a lot more than the meat we eat, like a cow, a pig, lamb or sheep.

Insects provide as much, if not more, protein than livestock. That's a good way of getting the proteins that we need.

Insects produce fewer greenhouse gases. They don't produce as much methane, carbon dioxide, or ammonia. In addition to that, they produce less waste, and that waste is not as damaging to the environment as cow dung.

Eating meat transmits certain diseases to humans (humans can get a variation of "mad cow disease," right?). Sometimes the flus and diseases can manifest and the results are and can be very deadly. Insects are distantly related to humans so things like swine flu will not happen.

They are also much cheaper and efficient. It costs much, much more to produce livestock meat than insects. 

"One kilogram of grasshoppers has the same amount of calories as ten hot dogs, or six Big Macs," says Marcel Dicke. So why not eat insects?

? · Accepted Answer

Because insects are seen as gross. Insects are seen as nuisance. Presence of insects like cockroach is dead giveaway of lack of cleanliness.
Altho I have seen a tribe which eats ants. I read somewhere theat ants have lot of protein.
Just like vegetarians since birth(like me) are grossed out by idea of eating meat,non-veg are grossed by idea of eating dogs,cats,insects etc.
As for me,I won't eat insects. Ever.

Anonymous · Answer

I think if we started eating insects, the ecosystem would be even worse!

Insects are here to feed smaller animals, such as rats, mice, bats, which then feed slightly larger animals - and so on. They also pollinate flowers (bees), dispose of other creatures uneaten food/waste (flies, micro organisms and ants) etc.

It is a good question, though, and I think people would have done it a lot back in the day. The stigma of eating such ugly, nasty looking things has gotten to us though. I'm not sure of how they taste, but I do know a lot of them let off weird gases and chemicals when killed so they might be bitter?

The furthest I'd go is eating those ant delicasies cause they can be covered in chocolate, or coated with glazes! And, ant's don't have much to them (as opposed to roaches and the like!)

But, as I said, it's a good point you've raised...just don't know if most people would be able to stomach insects! They'd probably lose the calories through puking!

kingham · Answer

I do not feel it is two pounds, nevertheless it's multiple might think - folks are constantly swallowing spiders of their sleep. Some men and women do eat insects, as either a snack, or to provide a very vital amount of protein to their diets that they would not in any other case get. Actually, even humans who usually do not devour bugs consume things like "chocolate protected ants".

Cøld_As_Ice™ · Answer

Interesting question.  Some people do eat insects.  I find insects to be creepy and gross so I'm not sure I could stand to eat them but you do have a point.  Maybe one day society will be eating insects for protein instead of livestock!

Anonymous · Answer

I'm down for whatever but... you've got to do some sort of processing because them crunchy wings and antennas is grossing a brother out. We can do 'em like we do sausage or ground beef! Mix 'em all up in a big ole vat, add some soy powder and call 'em "Almost Chicken Nuggets."

Qwerty™ · Answer

It's a social thing. Western culture views bugs as disgusting creatures and thus eating them is considered a no-no. There's really no other reason.

Dang girl you gonna have me eating insects. My bearded dragon eats live crickets. Imma steal his food (and he gonna get mad O.o).

Nom · Answer

the food coloring cochineal and carmine are both made from ground bugs, Starbucks customers were disgusted to find out these ground up bugs made the red dye used in Starbucks strawberry and cream frapuchino. congratulations to you and starbucks

Blockhead · Answer

heres a deal for you missy,you eat the bugs and i'll stick with the cows and rib-eyes,lol

Breeze of Logic · Answer

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's because It's not very filling AND it tastes like ****. :)

Annie · Answer

Because we live in a developed nation and we don't have to eat nasty things in our backyard to survive.

Trending News

Serious question: Why not eat insects?

10 Answers