Primary school pupils to be offered insects to eat in ‘alternative protein’ study

48 comments
  1. There has been talk of insect protein for quite a while and some exotic food shops have been selling them.

    Last time I read about them it was looking quite promising because of the comparatively quick growing times and high yield.

  2. I see this as a good thing.

    Lots of kids are really open to trying new things, if they see things like this at a young age, they’re less likely to hold judgements or prejudices in later life.

    Even if it is something we never turn to, it could be a great example of what other countries or cultures may enjoy eating.

  3. I’ve eaten grasshopper/crickets/ants and the worst thing about it was the tiny bits of carapace that get stuck in your teeth/gums. One piece even got stuck at the back of my throat and was a real irritation!

    I’ve seen videos of people who gather flies from huge swarms over Lake Victoria and turn them into burger patties. I don’t think I would go for that, tbh

  4. Because primary school kids totally don’t stick their noses up at something that’s the wrong colour or shape, love to see them convincing kids to eat insects

  5. There was a previous trial in Pembrokeshire schools (near the Bug Farm outside St David’s, which I recommend).

    In that trial they used insect protein to make a mince product which was made into familiar dishes such as burgers or bolognese. A majority of children chose to try it, even at secondary school. They had workshops on sustainability and the production of the protein beforehand.

    However, it’s recommended that anyone with a mollusc or crustacean allergy should also avoid insect protein as it may be too similar. That’s the reason I’ve not tried it, though my teen has (he didn’t notice it wasn’t “normal”).

  6. Not much of a study if people know what they’re eating. Like come on a study is supposed to be about getting results from a blind study give them a choice of 2 or 3 without telling them what it is they’re eating and get them to give it a point.

    Who the fuck is running this study boris johnson?

  7. I clicked on this article fully convinced the cost of living crisis is so bad that someone decided we need to pre-empt kids having to eat bugs for their packed lunch. Genuinely where my head was at.

  8. It is not going to happen. Complete waste of time and money.

    When are elites going to learn than you can’t just get to people to make radical changes to their diet like this. Human nature doesn’t work like that

  9. Human protein needs really aren’t that high. Anyone who gets their calorie needs met will almost certainly be getting enough protein. Protein is in basically every food, asides from table sugar and oil or butter.

  10. i’ve eaten insects before and i’m definitely not opposed to the notion of alternative protein, particularly because the rate that we are consuming meat is not environmentally sustainable.

    that said, i have visions of a young adult novel-style future in which the wealthy eat filet mignon covered in shaved gold leaf and the rest of us must subsist on bug flesh and gutter scraps

  11. My toddlers had to be stopped from eating worms more than once!

    Also, I thought we were heading for a global insect shortage!

  12. You know when a food crisis is starting because…

    In all seriousness, I apparently used to eat woodlouse when I was a little kid, never did me any harm *cough*

  13. And people say the WEF’s bug eating agenda is just a *theory*, meanwhile Boris Johnson is a member of said WEF.

  14. Not sure if I can approve of this, due to having been severely traumatised by my classmate’s repeated squishing of many defenceless arthropods when I was a school kid.

  15. I bought some dried mealworms as a joke for a Halloween party snack.

    Add a bit of flavour similar to crisp flavouring, Cayenne pepper etc and you’d be on to a winner.

    Once you get past that first initial thought of eating an insect then they actually taste ok.

  16. Everyone’s [probably been eating insects without realising](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43786055). Cochineal are red beetles that have been used for decades to make red food colouring, it’s used in lots and lots of products.

    These days it’s probably been replaced with synthetic dyes for the most part but I bet there’s still plenty of it out there.

  17. I raise my own mealworm for the table. Easy, tasty, quick growth. Simple really.

    The inherent squeamishness about insects in the diet is a real hurdle for the development of the sector. The current prices reflect the lack of scale and investment in raising insects for the table. I must say that my favourite is an arachnid – scorpion. Imagine crispy chicken skin with the soft white fat inside it and you’re close to a freshly fried scorpion. Bloody delicious.

  18. will they be home grown or imported, British farmers need something if theyre going to be fucked with inflation

  19. You can’t have cheap large animal protein without some environmental consequences, which society is only now waking up to after decades of intensive farming. Basically going from lotus-eating to locust-eating.

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