Eating Bugs

I recently read a book by Raw-Foodist Victoria Boutenko called "12 Steps to Raw Foods." I t is an excellent book, not only for those interested in the Raw Foods movement, but also for those interested in nutrition and our eating habits impact on the planet. Ms. Boutenko did quite a bit of research on the topic and had one chapter I found particularly disturbing. It was about eating insects. She focuses mostly on the nutrient-rich high protein diet that insects could provide, and by U.S. acceptance of the practice of eating bugs, we could drastically reduce the pesticides and chemicals used on crops and processing. The FDA has very high standards of the amount of ground bug parts allowed in foods such as peanut butter and jellies and so on. Because of these regulations, producers wind up using all sorts of pesticides which are more harmful to us than the insects.

I have to admit that I am one of those people though. The thought of biting into an apple and getting a worm in myh mouth, or eating peanut butter with crickets in it makes my stomach turn. And don't even mention maggots. However, in many other countries eating insects is acceptable and often a delicacy.

Boutenko discusses the efficiency of getting protein from insects instead of more traditional meat sources. She states:
"One hundred pounds of feed produces ten pounds of beef, while the same amount of feed could yield 45 pounds of cricket."
She also notes that there is more protein and B-12 in insects than there is in meat, and insects are lower in cholesterol and fat.

Armed with all of this knowledge, I will still scream the next time a cricket jumps on me. I hate those things.