It’s Halloween time, which means our focus is on the mind-numbing, spine-tingling, creepy, crawly madness that comes with the season. Last Halloween, you may have tried treats formed to resemble bugs. This year, step it up a notch by eating the real deal!
If the idea of dining on insects grosses you out, you are not alone. Many Americans have grown up with the idea that insects are filthy pests. Some of us would only eat them if we were starving—and even that may be a stretch.
The truth is that the distaste for insects has a long history behind it—with harsh winters, bugs die out and never really get big enough to consume. Therefore, bugs are seen as nuisances rather than nourishment. Dirty rather than delectable. Appalling rather than appetizing. In American culture, entomophagy, or bug eating, is even seen as a sign of being uncivilized. TV shows like Fear Factor have honed in on the yuck factor engrained in many minds by serving bugs—sometimes still alive—to contestants. And people freak!
But even Fear Factor’s executive producer Matt Kunitz has said that all of the food featured on their show is USDA-certified for human consumption, even the cockroaches. “The cockroaches are fed cornmeal, not trash. The Madagascar hissing cockroach is actually one of the cleaner insects out there.”
In reality, people in many countries around the world see bugs as food. From Asia to Latin America, people have dined on insects that, because of warmer climates, grow much larger—and meatier—than they do here. And as “gross” as it may sound, insects are actually quite nutritious. Watch Marcel Dicke’s rather persuasive argument featured on TED Talks. Even this argument might not convince you, though. You still might choke at the thought of eating insects. And that’s okay.
For those brave souls who take on the challenge of eating bugs this Halloween season, just remember these important food safety tips:
1. Order from approved providers. Don’t let me catch you eating bugs you’ve collected from your backyard! Like Fear Factor, make sure these insects are USDA-certified for human consumption.
2. Wash your hands. Whether you are preparing your own food or not, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands.
3. Pay attention to cooking temperatures. Make sure you cook insects thoroughly and to proper temperatures. Verify temperatures with a cooking thermometer.
—Aubrey Pontious
