Could Insects Be the Key to Curing Hunger?

Ok, so the thought of eating insects might not be the most appealing one. Few of us sit down to dinner and think what we want are some bugs. In general, we can’t even stand the sight of the little creatures, let alone the idea of putting them on a dinner plate. Some of us might even get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it.

But consider...could it be possible that we’ve been viewing them from a skewed perspective, missing key facts because of our own self-imposed blinders? Some experts even believe we might be able to use insects to cure hunger. Not convinced? Check this out.

Insects as Food?

For those of us who didn’t grow up viewing insects as part of our food chain, their relative size, additional legs and strange bits like antennae can make them seem too alien to view as anything other than pests.

But you might be surprised to know there are places in the world where insects are worth more at the meat market than many other animal protein sources we’d eat without any thought. There are areas in Africa where insects can make up to 50% of human protein consumption. Because insects are plentiful and breed quickly, experts have proposed finding ways to broaden their range as a food source.

Why Should We Eat Insects?

Most insects are 30% to 65% protein, and depending on the individual species, they can contain significantly higher numbers of amino acids than traditional meat. Some insects are sources of nearly every known amino acid, meaning they’re packed with protein, and most are also highly digestible. Ounce for ounce, insects could be worth a lot more to us than our current meat sources.

Insects are also rich in many of the minerals we need like magnesium, iron, and zinc as well as vitamins like folic acid. Yes, seriously. And this is far from an exhaustive list of their benefits and nutrients.

Insect Eating May Not Be an Option for Everyone

Because of the many proteins in their composition, insects could pose allergy dangers to some people. An analysis of whole and powdered crickets revealed multiple proteins in common with crustaceans, which cause some of the most common and severe human food allergies. In all, scientists identified 20 proteins believed to be potential allergens, 3 of which experts associate with shellfish allergies. Food manufacturers may need to find ways to overcome this hurdle; otherwise, this alternative protein source could be deadly to a whole subset of consumers. At the very least, those with shellfish allergies should be aware that insect consumption probably isn't for them.

Moving Forward on Insect Consumption

Barring any allergy concerns, insects are a great option for many people, and some smart folks are seeking ways to make them more viable worldwide. New processing methods offering ways to mask insects as their source might make them more palatable in Western diets. Breeding and husbandry standards could improve safety and reduce the instance of parasites and diseases some insects may carry. And as these processes improve worldwide, the hope is that we might be able to shift our attitudes about the value of insects as food as we did with sushi many decades ago.

Insects could solve at least one of the world’s big problems if we can shift minds on the topic. But once we do, most people should benefit from the additional food source and its nutrition. Who knows, some of us might even find a new favorite food.

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