Western cultures clamor for all kinds of ethnic cuisine from the far reaches of the world. But are we ready to eat insects--the original white meat? Before you gag, consider this: insects are cheap, plentiful, easy to cultivate and yes, quite nutritious. In 113 countries, they're frequently on the menu. And let's note that we already consume lobster, shrimp, crawfish and other crustaceans. Like insects, they are also arthropods.

Dutch researchers are already working on a way to produce high protein insect cells--sans the bugs--as an alternative form of protein. Admittedly, the idea makes me a bit squemish, but if I really think about it--and overcome the gag factor--it makes sense to exploit this unused source of food.

How about you? Would you eat fried grubs with chili (a dish on the menu in Thailand)? Cicadas? Where would you draw the line?

I ganked this from Washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/community/groups/index.html?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3aa70e3396-6663-4a8d-ba19-e44939d3c44fForum%3af0b0243d-5692-4dfe-b8ef-1d729c76b69eDiscussion%3a3509f150-1fbf-48d9-bcf2-c227aad8e592

ferfux Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Western cultures clamor for all kinds of ethnic
> cuisine from the far reaches of the world. But are
> we ready to eat insects--the original white meat?
> Before you gag, consider this: insects are cheap,
> plentiful, easy to cultivate and yes, quite
> nutritious. In 113 countries, they're frequently
> on the menu. And let's note that we already
> consume lobster, shrimp, crawfish and other
> crustaceans. Like insects, they are also
> arthropods.
>
> Dutch researchers are already working on a way to
> produce high protein insect cells--sans the
> bugs--as an alternative form of protein.
> Admittedly, the idea makes me a bit squemish, but
> if I really think about it--and overcome the gag
> factor--it makes sense to exploit this unused
> source of food.
>
> How about you? Would you eat fried grubs with
> chili (a dish on the menu in Thailand)? Cicadas?
> Where would you draw the line?
>
> I ganked this from Washingtonpost.com
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/community/gro
> ups/index.html?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckD
> iscussionId=Cat%3aa70e3396-6663-4a8d-ba19-e44939d3
> c44fForum%3af0b0243d-5692-4dfe-b8ef-1d729c76b69eDi
> scussion%3a3509f150-1fbf-48d9-bcf2-c227aad8e592


I thought Haggis couldn't possibly be as bad as it sounds so I tried it.

I was wrong.

I think I will take a pass on the bugs.

If the can make the bugs look and taste like a Hostess chocolate cupcake...I'll eat it.

I would NEVER be able to even put a bug on a fork let alone get it close to my mouth, and I don't eat seafood of any kind because of the way it looks...

I think the idea of eating a "whole" animal is sick...
On Thanksgiving, my mother has to cut the turkey into pieces before she brings it to the table so that I don't pass out...

Knowing that hamburger comes from cows is one thing, having a whole cow placed in front of me to gorge on is just plain gross!

what if we dip all insects in chocolate or peanut butter? Dude you got your palmetto bug in my peanut butter! uh DUUUDE you got your peanut butter in my Palmetto bug! MMMM taste sensation!

Tia2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would NEVER be able to even put a bug on a fork
> let alone get it close to my mouth, and I don't
> eat seafood of any kind because of the way it
> looks...
>
> I think the idea of eating a "whole" animal is
> sick...
> On Thanksgiving, my mother has to cut the turkey
> into pieces before she brings it to the table so
> that I don't pass out...
>
> Knowing that hamburger comes from cows is one
> thing, having a whole cow placed in front of me to
> gorge on is just plain gross!

Believe me. There are little spiders crawling in and out of your mouth as you sleep, you more than likely swallow several daily.

Clark Kent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tia2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I would NEVER be able to even put a bug on a
> fork
> > let alone get it close to my mouth, and I don't
> > eat seafood of any kind because of the way it
> > looks...
> >
> > I think the idea of eating a "whole" animal is
> > sick...
> > On Thanksgiving, my mother has to cut the
> turkey
> > into pieces before she brings it to the table
> so
> > that I don't pass out...
> >
> > Knowing that hamburger comes from cows is one
> > thing, having a whole cow placed in front of me
> to
> > gorge on is just plain gross!
>
> Believe me. There are little spiders crawling in
> and out of your mouth as you sleep, you more than
> likely swallow several daily.

That statistic is actually bogus. Spiders and other bugs aren't crawling into your mouth at night as you sleep. There is no basis for that statistic.