EU Approves Two Insects for Human Consumption

[Debater Slayer]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:

The maggot-like larvae of lesser mealworms — a type of shiny black beetle — and house crickets will become the third and fourth insects that can be sold as food for people in the European Union. Eight more applications await approval.

On Tuesday, the EU gave the green light to the sale of the larvae in powder, frozen, paste and dried forms. The crickets can be sold as partially defatted powder.

For many Europeans, the thought of eating creatures that wriggle or crawl in any form isn't exactly appealing. But insects, already a delicacy in high-end restaurants around the world, are a normal and healthy part of diets in countries from Mexico to Thailand. They have also captured the attention of scientists and businesses looking to clean up farming and feed the planet's growing population.

(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:



(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

Not even if they were declared kosher (which they are not) would I eat bugs. Locusts are (strangely enough) considered to be kosher, but you won't ever catch me eating one of those, either.

 

[ChristineM]

Why not? I've eaten inago (grass hopper i think). And I'm pretty sure we've all swallowed a bug or two in out lives.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Not even if they were declared kosher (which they are not) would I eat bugs. Locusts are (strangely enough) considered to be kosher, but you won't ever catch me eating one of those, either.

I generally wouldn't either, but I might be willing to try them in powdered form as an ingredient rather than a standalone meal. Even then, they would have to be really powdered. I can't imagine finding a cricket leg in my noodles.

 

[vulcanlogician]

I don't wanna eat bugs personally, but a viable food source is a viable food source.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Not even if they were declared kosher (which they are not) would I eat bugs. Locusts are (strangely enough) considered to be kosher, but you won't ever catch me eating one of those, either.

In Islam, locusts are also halal, while three out of the four main Sunni Islamic schools of thought prohibit other insects. Locusts are an exception.

 

[Fool]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:



(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

I have eaten termites.

i have eaten a partial grasshopper. I found a remaining leg in my greens. oh well

 

[sun rise]

Different cultures have different ideas here. My upbringing as conditioned me to never consume insects. I remember as an adolescent someone got a box of chocolate covered ants and dared the rest of us to try one. No one did. But I see the value in slowly overcoming that conditioning.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have eaten termites.

i have eaten a partial grasshopper. I found a remaining leg in my greens. oh well

Did the termites say a pickup line before being eaten?

 

[Vee]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:



(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

I prefer to respect the natural chain: chicken eat bugs and I eat the chicken

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

In Islam, locusts are also halal, while three out of the four main Sunni Islamic schools of thought prohibit other insects. Locusts are an exception.

I think this is because that locusts are deemed okay to eat in the Bible that both my people and yours share.

Edited to add: I just checked and read that Muslims don't share the same Bible as Jews (which Christians call the Old Testament). But there must be some shared scripture between us that caused both peoples to arrive at the same religious conclusion about the edibility of locusts? We are, after all, religious cousins (children of Abraham).

 

[Debater Slayer]

I think this is because that locusts are deemed okay to eat in the Bible that both my people and yours share.

Perhaps. I suspect it could also be due to their abundance in the Middle East, where both Judaism and Islam originated. The allowance for them in Islam comes from a hadith, specifically.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I prefer to respect the natural chain: chicken eat bugs and I eat the chicken

I wonder what would happen if I ate both the chicken and the bug at the same time. Hopefully they wouldn't fight inside my tummy! I could see that causing digestive issues.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I generally wouldn't either, but I might be willing to try them in powdered form as an ingredient rather than a standalone meal. Even then, they would have to be really powdered. I can't imagine finding a cricket leg in my noodles.

Interesting. Insect herbs and spices.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:



(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

Gross, not a chance. You only put me off for my sushi plans tonight:

But the temptation overcame that disgust. Let's start with some uni. . It is sooooo good:

Then I always like some Mexican food with my sushi so I order a taco or two. Or is that tako? It is said that same:

The suckers are the best part.

Then I like to see how many salmon that I can eat with one bite:

My apologies to the prolife crowd. That is a lot of baby salmon.

But bugs! No way!

 

[Debater Slayer]

Interesting. Insect herbs and spices.

That idea bugs me for some reason.

 

[Subduction Zone]

For the halal eaters here, is shellfish halal? I am pretty sure that you could eat the eggyweggies. The ikura should be halal. Though it may not be. For the kosher keepers only the ikura may be kosher. Fins and scales. Sorry, no uni or tako for you. But I just checked. ikura is okay.

 

[Debater Slayer]

For the halal eaters here, is shellfish halal? I am pretty sure that you could eat the eggyweggies. The ikura should be halal. Though it may not be. For the kosher keepers only the ikura may be kosher. Fins and scales. Sorry, no uni or tako for you. But I just checked. ikura is okay.

Yes, shellfish are halal. All of seafood in general is halal except for species specifically stated to be haraam, such as frogs.

Is All Seafood Halal? - Islam Question & Answer

 

[Twilight Hue]

The EU has approved two more insects for human consumption, bringing the total to four:



(Heads-up: The article contains images some may find disgusting.)

Insects on the menu as EU approves two for human consumption – DW – 01/24/2023

What are your thoughts? Would you buy a product containing these or not?

Only 'bug' I like is shrimp. Of course if I was starving...

 

[Subduction Zone]

Processed and powdered it would probably be edible without a second thought. Some things that we have the heebie jeebies about are not only perfectly good protein, but quite tasty when properly prepared.