Entomophagy: Insect and Eat Different Kinds
“Mom! There’s a cockroach on my banjo case!” “Okay honey, I’ll bring the skillet”
Entomophagy is the term for eating insects as food. Insects as food? The idea is not culturally accepted in many developed first world countries. So why do so many people frown upon the consumption of insects?
Offering a fried grasshopper to a friend would probably bring about comments such as “gross!” “no way” or “you’re kidding me!!” Let’s face it, bugs are known for some gross things. Cockroaches, for instance, prefer meats, sweets and starches, but also eat hair, decaying matter, and dead skin cells. The idea of eating something that eats dead skin cells is not very appealing.
Our minds may scream at us not to eat insects, but if raised, prepared, and cooked right they are usually safe and nutritious! Common sense has to be used, like in most things. If the insect has a strong odor, or is brightly colored, it’s practically challenging you to eat it. A challenge that you would most likely lose. Not often do people die from eating these types of insects, but sickness is a possibility. There are 1,462 recorded species of edible bugs. People of various countries eat what is indigenous to their country. For instance, the Japanese eat different kinds of larva, grasshoppers, and Japanese beetles. People in West Africa are known for eating termites, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. And the people of Thailand eat mealworms, and grasshoppers.
Although these days eating insects isn’t very socially acceptable, entomophagy goes back centuries. The Romans and Greeks used to consider beetle larva and locusts a delicacy. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist, wrote about tasty cicadas, which is a flying bug. In the book of Leviticus, book 11 verse 22 says “Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.” God knows all things! It’s a good idea not to argue with God. If that’s not enough to make the insects in Israel a bit squeamish, John the
Entomophagy is the term for eating insects as food. Insects as food? The idea is not culturally accepted in many developed first world countries. So why do so many people frown upon the consumption of insects?
Offering a fried grasshopper to a friend would probably bring about comments such as “gross!” “no way” or “you’re kidding me!!” Let’s face it, bugs are known for some gross things. Cockroaches, for instance, prefer meats, sweets and starches, but also eat hair, decaying matter, and dead skin cells. The idea of eating something that eats dead skin cells is not very appealing.
Our minds may scream at us not to eat insects, but if raised, prepared, and cooked right they are usually safe and nutritious! Common sense has to be used, like in most things. If the insect has a strong odor, or is brightly colored, it’s practically challenging you to eat it. A challenge that you would most likely lose. Not often do people die from eating these types of insects, but sickness is a possibility. There are 1,462 recorded species of edible bugs. People of various countries eat what is indigenous to their country. For instance, the Japanese eat different kinds of larva, grasshoppers, and Japanese beetles. People in West Africa are known for eating termites, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. And the people of Thailand eat mealworms, and grasshoppers.
Although these days eating insects isn’t very socially acceptable, entomophagy goes back centuries. The Romans and Greeks used to consider beetle larva and locusts a delicacy. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist, wrote about tasty cicadas, which is a flying bug. In the book of Leviticus, book 11 verse 22 says “Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.” God knows all things! It’s a good idea not to argue with God. If that’s not enough to make the insects in Israel a bit squeamish, John the