Tips from an Avid Cicadas Eater(npr.org)
npr.org
Tips from an Avid Cicadas Eater
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/04/1003387986/so-youre-thinking-about-eating-a-cicada-tips-from-a-cicada-enthusiast
40 comments
You're saying this is a PR piece? The story didn't claim that there are any benefits to eating Cicadas, and hardly made a case that they taste wonderful.
If this is a PR piece, who's standing to gain from it? Your comment seems overly cynical.
If this is a PR piece, who's standing to gain from it? Your comment seems overly cynical.
> Please ignore this story and don't eat the bugs
I mean what I learn from the above is that bugs won't kill you if eaten. So why not eat bugs? (We can also ask why eat bugs) Are they actually bad for you?
I mean what I learn from the above is that bugs won't kill you if eaten. So why not eat bugs? (We can also ask why eat bugs) Are they actually bad for you?
Too late: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43786055
Food colorant E120 is crushed insects.
Food colorant E120 is crushed insects.
That is as close to eating an insect as eating peanut butter is to eating rats.
"Please ignore this story and don't eat the bugs"
How much of a difference is there really between terrestrial insects and enormously popular underwater insects like shrimp, crabs, and lobsters?
How much of a difference is there really between terrestrial insects and enormously popular underwater insects like shrimp, crabs, and lobsters?
Crustaceans aren’t insects, though they are arthropods.
I ordered some edible snack bugs from Amazon, but they are still very pricey compared to a bag of nuts. I wouldn't mind eating more of them, however, it is not cost effective quite yet.
Free edible insects in the wellness chamber on Aisle X! Get 'em while they're hot!
One of the great questions of the 2020s is - why are they pushing the bugs? Cui bono?
Because we are trending toward too many people and not enough protein. Not a ton of mystery there.
Why do you believe that we are running low on protein? Meat maybe, but I'm under the impression that plant based protein is plenty sufficient.
I think the issue is that plant based protein is plentiful, but people want meat. Insects are kind of in between in terms of production efficiency and meat-like consistence.
I suspect we'll be getting cockroach burger articles more frequently, the WEF has been pushing this for a bit now:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/good-grub-why-we-migh...
Don't get me wrong, once we can grow real steaks in a petri dish I'm all in. Until then, I'm too old for this $!@#.
And we're actually closer to being able to grow steaks than some folks realize. The problem right now is obviously a bunch of muscle cells in a dish is not a steak, you need them forming organs. Badow: https://youtu.be/L43-XE1uwWc?t=2561
Don't get me wrong, once we can grow real steaks in a petri dish I'm all in. Until then, I'm too old for this $!@#.
And we're actually closer to being able to grow steaks than some folks realize. The problem right now is obviously a bunch of muscle cells in a dish is not a steak, you need them forming organs. Badow: https://youtu.be/L43-XE1uwWc?t=2561
Ah, the World Economic Forum, of the now-deleted Tweet about how you will own nothing and you will be happy. Little early on the dystopia there, guys, try waiting a bit more.
Ah yes what an insane idea to consider in a world where people happily pay for monthly access to books, movies, apartments, transportation, and so on.
Food is actually the one thing that jumps out to me as “definitely purchased” which makes sense given the necessary consumption pattern.
Food is actually the one thing that jumps out to me as “definitely purchased” which makes sense given the necessary consumption pattern.
I will address your comment in a non-sarcastic manner.
Monthly access, rentals, leases, all of these are fine. But the key point, mentioned twice in their statement, is the word "will." You WILL own nothing and you WILL be happy.
You might quibble about diction, it's just a word, but that has been through many many sets of editorial hands and eyes. It is a commandment, it is non-optional, it removes your choice in the matter. You WILL own nothing. Not you may own nothing, but that you will own nothing. And you're going to be happy about it, more ominously.
For a few of us, still, having choice matters.
Monthly access, rentals, leases, all of these are fine. But the key point, mentioned twice in their statement, is the word "will." You WILL own nothing and you WILL be happy.
You might quibble about diction, it's just a word, but that has been through many many sets of editorial hands and eyes. It is a commandment, it is non-optional, it removes your choice in the matter. You WILL own nothing. Not you may own nothing, but that you will own nothing. And you're going to be happy about it, more ominously.
For a few of us, still, having choice matters.
The WEF is not some authority figure that dictates the future. They are commentating, and not even commentating on their ideal. It was just a, “the future might look like this.” Which… yes it clearly might.
Some conspiracists think WEF somehow controls the world, in which case I can see how that’s alarming, but they don’t.
Some conspiracists think WEF somehow controls the world, in which case I can see how that’s alarming, but they don’t.
They do more than commentate, do they not? Little people like you and me can commentate, but their mission statement is "committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas."
Let's not pretend that they are some neutral party, devoid of power, merely speculating on potential futures. They do not need to "control the world," that's the fallacy of the divided middle.
Let's not pretend that they are some neutral party, devoid of power, merely speculating on potential futures. They do not need to "control the world," that's the fallacy of the divided middle.
Cicadas bio-accumulate mercury [1]
[1]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040531214618.h...
[1]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040531214618.h...
> The higher levels, he said, approach those in fish that have earned government warnings.
So they're probably not any worse than fish
So they're probably not any worse than fish
Yeah, probably not any worse than fish (well, specific varieties of fish that have been found to have deleterious levels of mercury and received cautions against consumption).
Uhm thanks, I didn’t know this, that’s not a good news (from 2004, hope other researchers have been made) but also a lot of other foods accumulate mercury (fishes for example).
In one specific organ?
Having eaten some bugs myself, I can tell you that they are disgusting even when properly cooked and seasoned.
The legs and exoskeleton are very, very hard, but not quite crunchy either. Like chewing on a number of small plastic toothpicks.
This is a fad that will not replace meat.
The legs and exoskeleton are very, very hard, but not quite crunchy either. Like chewing on a number of small plastic toothpicks.
This is a fad that will not replace meat.
Having eaten fried meal worm a couple of times, I can only say that it is actually really good.
If people don't like the exoskeleton then it may be like lobstor: people don't eat that part and it gets processed differently (just like people don't eat chicken bones, which gets processed into food we do eat). I honestly don't see that as an issue.
The issue is that it will be in addition to meat, not instead of meat. Meat is tasty and the government that makes it too expensive in a misguided attempt to save the environment (can't be done, we will have to live with global warming or begin the geoengineering stuff yesterday) will just become unpopular with the population.
The other issue is that I can serve beef, chicken etc to guests. I can buy some bugs as a curiosity snack and have them in the kitchen, I can't serve them as any part of the meal, without it being looked down on.
If people don't like the exoskeleton then it may be like lobstor: people don't eat that part and it gets processed differently (just like people don't eat chicken bones, which gets processed into food we do eat). I honestly don't see that as an issue.
The issue is that it will be in addition to meat, not instead of meat. Meat is tasty and the government that makes it too expensive in a misguided attempt to save the environment (can't be done, we will have to live with global warming or begin the geoengineering stuff yesterday) will just become unpopular with the population.
The other issue is that I can serve beef, chicken etc to guests. I can buy some bugs as a curiosity snack and have them in the kitchen, I can't serve them as any part of the meal, without it being looked down on.
What about grinding them into a flour, which I understand is super high in protein and delicious but admittedly never had an opportunity to try myself.
I have eaten insect flour chocolate brownies in a restaurant. They taste similar to a regular brownie, but are a little more gritty. If that slightly unpleasant texture could be removed, and the base ingredient given a more palatable name - eg sky chicken - then the flour could definitely take off as a food staple IMHO.
If you ground them up, that would solve the texture problem. The only drawback would be the accumulation of herbicides, metals, and radionuclides in their flesh. Highly appetizing.
I've eaten fried crickets, and the taste reminded me of the smell of the cricket enclosure in a pet store. They're not too bad, but not really good either. A little like crunchy mushroom. I'd think you could flavor them thru their food, by feeding them garlic and rosemary for example.
Honey tastes like bees, another insect. It mostly tastes sweet of course, but the flavor underneath is bees.
Do people with shellfish allergies also tend to have trouble with honey?
Honey tastes like bees, another insect. It mostly tastes sweet of course, but the flavor underneath is bees.
Do people with shellfish allergies also tend to have trouble with honey?
I remember trying some salt and vinegar flavoured fried crickets years ago. I was disappointed in their lack of vinegar flavour. It's hard to find a good salt and vinegar flavoured thing that actually tastes like vinegar.
The crickets themselves, they were just like eating any other fried crispy thing. They were also overpriced and rather insubstantial compared to other similar fried crispy snacks.
The crickets themselves, they were just like eating any other fried crispy thing. They were also overpriced and rather insubstantial compared to other similar fried crispy snacks.
This story surfaces every few years.
"Eat bugs, they're good for you"
"Eat bugs, they're high in protein"
"Eat bugs, look, this high status person with a PhD eats them."
Please ignore this story and don't eat the bugs