And the latest to be included on the EU’s list of edible things are…grasshoppers.
This approval was made in a move to encourage better diets and more sustainable farming and food production.
This is the second time the EU included an insect on it’s list of safe foods for people. This follows the inclusion of the mealworm beetle larva, so it’s not as far out a concept as we might think.
The third insect fated (or doomed?) to end up on the list is expected to be the cricket, with the European Food Safety Authority (FDA) stating that adults can safely munch on grasshoppers.
Considered to be high sources of protein, grasshoppers could form part of an overall shift towards eating insects as a mainstream cuisine.
These critters have proven to be far more easily raised and produced, unlike the waning numbers of bigger animals such as cows, pigs and chicken. It could also address massive food shortages and spiking prices as human populations explode.
This is also a bizarre concept for many Westerners – eating such insects has never been a problem for many cultures worldwide. It could take some getting used to, but maybe it won’t be as bizarre in a couple of years…
#MaltaDaily
Photo Source: ThoughtCo
