Insects and beetles - all important before you taste a cricket
One would not be able to survive without food, and the human diet has undergone significant changes throughout history. For all, let's mention, for example, the changing attitude towards egg consumption. In addition to the correct nutritional composition, availability and chemical treatment, we are interested in the ecological side of things. The consequences of mass animal husbandry probably do not need to be presented separately. Recently, insects and beetles have often been mentioned as a new possible alternative for improving the sustainability of the planet. Is this the future we need to prepare for? In the article we will introduce you to the advantages, disadvantages, facts and interesting information about insects, more precisely insects on a plate.
Insects and beetles - food of the future?
"Don't be afraid of beetles in food, because they are proteins." I don't know about you, but I've heard this wannabe funny comment several times. It is also known to sigh that one day we will all eat insects. However, insects on a plate are not the music of the future. Approximately 2,000 species of insects are already consumed in 113 countries, and native cultures in Africa, Asia or South America have been eating certain insect species for centuries.
Consumption of beetles or insects is not new and there is also an official term for it - entomophagy. It is not uncommon for certain parts of the world to collect larvae, eggs, pupae or adult insects for consumption.
I believe that many of you have your forehead wrinkled and twisted at this point. The aim of the article is not to "wind" you into baked crickets, but to bring information from around the world. Many of us have trouble consuming certain foods that others may consider a delicacy. For example, such sushi or seafood, are you lovers of them or can you not stand them at all? Food is also subject to trends and there are several examples. Today, lobster is a sought-after and quite luxurious delicacy, but it was once eaten by a poor part of the population and was considered a "sea cockroach". You will certainly remember the popularity of certain types of food at a certain time. In the USA, Italian cuisine was "in" in the 1950s, Mexican in the 1970s and sushi in the 1990s.
By this we just want to say that a certain part of the diet popular in your region can come strange and disgusting to other cultures. In Mexico, Laos or Europe, escamoles are considered a gourmet delicacy, it sounds similar to guacamole, but it is actually the eggs of ants. You can find up to 164 species of insects on the market in Bangkok. Some are eaten for nutritional content, others for their appearance. The most commonly consumed insect species include:
caterpillars
the Beatles
locusts
crickets
bees
ants
Benefits of consuming insects
Nutritional content
When it comes to nutrients, insects often tend to be a source of protein, but in addition to protein, they contain fiber, healthy fats, and even vitamins and minerals. Nutrients in food insects are similar, and variations may be due to the method of preparation, their origin or the way they make a living. For a better overview of nutrients, we present a table with average values of nutrients in common meat and insect sources, which were published in a study from 2015:
Energy values (Kcal) Protein (g / 100 g portion) Fats (g / 100 g portion) Saturated fats (g / 100 g portion)
Beef 169 20.6 9.3 3.8
Chicken 152 19.9 7.2 1.81
Pork 186 20.1 12.4 3.5
Cricket (adult) 153 20.1 5.06 2.28
Darkling larva (larva) 247 19.4 12.3 2.93
Silkworm caterpillar 128 14.8 8.26 3.45
We mentioned that insects are not only a source of protein, but also vitamins and minerals. We therefore present another table from the same source to compare the content of selected minerals and vitamins:
Iron (mg / 100 g serving) Calcium (mg / 100 g serving) Vitamin C (mg / 100 g serving) Vitamin A (mg / 100 g serving) Vitamin B1 - thiamine (mg / 100 g serving) Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin ( mg / 100 g portion) Vitamin B3 - niacin (mg / 100 g portion)
Beef 1.95 5 0 * 0 0.08 0.23 4.7
Chicken 0.88 8 1.1 0 0.075 0.16 6.5
Pork 0.8 7 0 0 0.77 0.235 5.6
Cricket (adult) 5.46 103 3 6.53 0.04 3.41 3.84
Darkling larva (larva) 1.87 42.9 1.2 9.59 0.24 0.81 4.07
Silkworm caterpillar 1.8 42 - - 0.12 1.05 0.9
* value “0” was used for trace amounts
In many countries, the consumption of insects is quite common and is a source of protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12. Crickets contain the mentioned iron, calcium, B12, omega-3, but in addition they are exceptional for one more thing - they are a full source of protein. This means that they contain all 9 essential amino acids that our body cannot produce on its own and needs to take from the diet. This fact moves crickets to other full-fledged resources, such as meat, dairy products or eggs. From this point of view, they are actually a better choice than incomplete sources of proteins, for example some proteins of plant origin.
The idea of fried or cooked crickets may not be a tempting vision. But what would you say to cricket flour? A full-value source of protein, which also contains fatty acids, iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, potassium and vitamin B12. Today you can buy flour, protein bars or pasta from this flour. Her taste remains a question. Each of us perceives the taste of our own, but many describe the taste of cricket flour and protein as slightly nutty and more pleasant than they thought. Even the taste of cricket flour pasta is similar to ordinary pasta. You will usually notice only a slight difference in the texture, which is "grainier" and similar to wholegrain pasta. However, when mixed with the sauce, they do not taste particularly different. You can make pancakes from the flour or add it to your favorite smoothie.
Proteins and insects are legally associated because dried insects contain from 20 to 76% protein depending on the type. In 100 g of locusts you will find 14 - 28 g of protein and 14 g contains the same amount of red ants. In addition, 100 g of ants will provide you with up to 71% of your daily iron intake. You may find it disgusting, but suppose there are parts of the world where they would have no problem consuming them. Who knows, on the contrary, they would have a problem with pork liver, which is popular in several European countries.
Sustainability of our planet
One of the main arguments for consuming insects is the "eco-plane" of the whole thing. Today's food system has a negative impact on our planet. Water use, pollution, deforestation or biodiversity loss are not negligible impacts. Whether you admit it or not, the food system makes a significant contribution to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations, there will be a little more of us by 2050, more precisely 9.7 billion. From a dietary point of view, this will mean that twice as much food will be needed to feed so many people. Are you saying that we will start growing and breeding more? Unfortunately, we do not have enough arable land to feed so many people. 2050 is a long way off for many, because it is a horizon of 30 years, but today's data show that there are already 7.8 billion of us already.
Compared to cattle, insects are a much more gentle choice because they require less soil, water and also emit less greenhouse gases. Insect farming today has less of an impact on the planet as a source of protein than conventional sources.
Insect farming can be interesting for farmers in terms of soil and machinery, as it requires less land and the use of machinery. This fact can be an advantage especially in less developed countries. Another argument is the economic side of things, because insect farming can be quite an interesting source of income. For example, in countries with an average gross income of $ 5,640 a year, an insect farmer can earn $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 a year.
In addition to proponents of insect consumption to improve sustainability, there are people with different attitudes. Counter-arguments include, for example, the claim that the collection of wild insects becomes excessive. Another concern is the environmental impact, which may be more complex, for example due to the insect feed with a more complicated sustainability status. The third argument is the processing of insects, which can represent a significant use of energy to a greater extent. Enthusiasm for the new approach is nice, but even here a sober look is needed. Compared to more conventional sources, all aspects need to be considered to show the extent to which insect farming is a better choice.
Disadvantages of insect consumption
Allergens
Insects are consumed in many parts of the world, but that does not mean that they cannot cause an allergic reaction. Their consumption should be considered by people with crustacean allergies, as some research has found that insects can trigger an allergic reaction similar to crustaceans. Insects and crustaceans are among the arthropods in the animal kingdom. Insect allergy has been reported in caterpillars, grasshoppers, bees, cicadas or silkworms.
Toxins and pesticides
Remember, we talk about eating insects all the time. As we have already mentioned, about 2,000 species of insects are consumed. It's similar to mushrooms, some carry the risk of poisoning and therefore do not belong in the basket. Certain types of ants and bees contain toxins that can be dangerous. Metabolic steroid content has also been determined in certain beetle species. Frequent consumption can cause health problems. In addition, you are definitely interested in how it is with pesticides and insects. Pesticides and herbicides in the field are harmful to humans, animals and insects. You may not have known, but some insect species can handle higher doses of heavy metals than mammals. Therefore, in the case of insect consumption, there is a slightly higher risk of lead or arsenic poisoning. This is a minimal danger, but it must be taken into account. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the risk associated with insect consumption. The report shall identify possible biological and chemical risks, allergenicity and environmental risks related to farm insects. The report notes that further research is recommended to better identify risks. Hundreds of species of insects are consumed around the world, but demand for food insects in EU countries is expected to be limited to a few species, such as crickets, grasshoppers or flies. The risk associated with pesticides is higher when collecting wild insects. There have even been cases of health problems around the world after consuming insects collected from pesticide-treated areas.
Last but not least, it is the antinutrients that prevent the absorption of nutrients. The insect exoskeleton contains antinutrients, which reduces the absorption of proteins. The final and perhaps unnecessary warning is the risk of bacteria, they are everywhere and insects are no exception. In addition, insects feed on places full of bacteria, such as rotten food. Do you think this problem only affects wild insects? Even several insect farms in Asia do not meet high hygiene standards, and this may not be limited to farms in Asia.
We believe that you have read the article to the end, and thus get more information about the insects on the plate. However, if you are still convinced that the insect will continue to be "yuck" that you would never take in your mouth, remember that it is a matter of culture. Taste is associated with a culture that determines what is edible and what is not. If you think our culture does not allow beetles, we have more information for you. According to the Defect Levels Handbook published by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is ok if 100 g of chocolate has 60 pieces of insects in 6 samples.
Insects and beetles are not the music of the future for much of the world. Modern agriculture is a burden on the planet, and with a growing world population, it makes sense to look for ecological sources of nutrients. Who knows, in 100 years, insects may be a common part of the diet around the world, and our great-grandchildren will not understand the concerns of today's people. We believe that we have at least enriched you with new information.
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