Free Republic

NEW ORLEANS — As the nation prepares for trillions of red-eyed bugs known as periodical cicadas to emerge, it's worth noting that they're not just annoying, noisy pests — if prepared properly, they can also be tasty to eat. Blocks away from such French Quarter fine-dining stalwarts as Antoine's and Brennan's, the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans has long served up an array of alternative, insect-based treats at its “Bug Appetit” cafe overlooking the Mississippi River. “Cinnamon Bug Crunch,” chili-fried waxworms, and crispy, cajun-spiced crickets are among the menu items. Periodical cicadas stay buried for years, until they surface and...

Jiminy Cricket may be able to do more than guide our consciences: he, or his kin, may also provide food security solutions for a growing and hungry world. However, the notion of insects-as-food struggles to find widespread traction amid problems with standardization of food safety standards, government disinterest and only a small body of research. So is there a future for cricket sushi or fried silk worms?

Open Your Mind, and Your Mouth You might think of eating insects as something kids do on a dare. But some of these little animals are popular around the world for their nutritional value -- and they’re starting to catch on in the U.S. Not long ago, sushi and lobster didn’t seem all that appetizing to Americans, so it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.

The future of food is definitely at stake, and uber wealthy “philanthropists” influence food systems in concerning ways. Let us be clear—consuming insect-based foods comes with potential health risks. These risks are primarily related to food safety and the presence of allergens or toxins in some insects. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted several food safety issues associated with edible insects, including: Pathogens. Insects can harbor bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can risk human health if not properly handled or cooked. Allergens. Some insects contain allergens that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Toxins. Certain insects may contain...

EVER EATEN A spider? The golden orb-weaving spider (Nephila edulis) has a plump abdomen that, after baking, tastes remarkably like pâté. Many years ago I fed one to a journalist on A Current Affair. She was very reluctant to chew it but agreed about the taste. The scientific name of this spider celebrates its culinary merits. French naturalist Jacques Labillardiere bestowed the name in 1799 after seeing the spiders roasted and eaten in New Caledonia. Other species of Nephila are eaten in Thailand, served raw as well as cooked, as well as in New Guinea, where they’re fire-roasted. About...

YGTBFKM Until today, I didn't realize that individuals are now being assigned ESG scores that some institutions use to decide whether they will do business with a person. I obviously knew about ESG scores that huge investment firms are using to force corporations to conform to ideological demands. I knew that in some cases, prominent individuals or troublemakers have been blackballed by banks and other firms. And, of course, I know that some companies that sell politically incorrect items are getting deplatformed by PayPal and even web providers. But I didn't know that an industry has sprung up to analyze...

Would you ever eat a plate full of insects? Sure, most people would say ‘NO’ and even shake their heads in disgust. Insects are considered as a good source of protein by some people and many Nigerians eat it. Insects are plentiful and many are safe to eat but a few of them are dangerous. >[? Though they look creepy and poisonous, insects are healthy, nutritious, as well as delicious. Edible insects have long been a part of the human diet and are consumed by a good number of people. They often contain high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and amino...

Pythons turn their food into meat pretty efficiently, a study finds, making them an intriguing alternative to climate-unfriendly cows. Put aside your chicken cutlets and meatloaf and say hello to python curries and satay skewers. Some snake scientists think eating these reptiles—already customary or at least acceptable in parts of the world—might help lessen the damage our food choices have on the environment. With some eight billion people on the planet today, all of whom require protein to stay healthy, finding new sources of these nutrients is a crucial issue. But how do you get from the challenge of providing...

New York State’s Attorney General Letitia James is targeting businesses, such as the major beef producer JBS USA, for alleged environmental misrepresentations. The lawsuit accuses JBS of increasing beef production during a climate crisis and failing to adhere to environmental regulations, including driving deforestation in the Amazon. “We will cut our own emissions by 30% in 2030 and eliminate Amazon deforestation from our supply chain within five years,” James’ office stated. ames seeks penalties and criticizes JBS for misleading consumers on sustainability. “When companies falsely advertise their commitment to sustainability, they are misleading consumers and endangering our planet.” “JBS USA’s...

Those creepy crawly critters pack a lot of protein and other nutritional benefits.When it comes to increasing our protein intake, we often look to tried-and-true sources. But what if we told you there was another option? There's a tiny but mighty game changer that contains not only the protein you need to keep up your energy, but also fiber — an essential nutrient for your gut health. Enter the world of entomophagy, or the practice of eating bugs! While this concept may seem foreign, insects have been a staple in diets around the world for thousands if not millions of...

As inflation remains stubbornly high, farmers throughout the Western world are warning that cost increases from the net zero movement will drive food prices still higher, while simultaneously putting many smaller farmers out of business.January inflation numbers showed that prices increased by 3.1 percent over what they were a year ago, indicating that the fight against inflation, while progressing, has not been won.Overall, prices have surged by nearly 18 percent since January 2021 when President Joe Biden took office.Americans are struggling in an economy in which, by official statistics, nearly one-fifth of the value of their dollars has evaporated in...

Tyson, a major US producer of beef, pork and chicken, is betting on protein that comes from insects. The meat processor said on Tuesday that it has invested in Protix, a Netherlands-based insect ingredients maker. Tyson is not only taking a minority stake in the company, but is working alongside it to build a US factory. That facility will use animal waste to feed black soldier flies, which will then be turned into food for pets, poultry and fish. Tyson did not disclose the financial specifics of the deal. Those flies are not going into human food, at this point....

New research found that replacing traditional proteins with mealworms in high-fat diets for mice could offer numerous health benefits including reduced weight gain and improved cholesterol. While there’s hesitation in Western societies about insect consumption, it’s an environmentally sustainable protein source. With the world’s population on the rise and climate change intensifying, there’s an increasing need for sustainable protein alternatives. While plant-based “meat” and “dairy” have gained popularity, they’re not the sole green alternatives to traditional meat. Research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, conducted on mice, indicates that substituting conventional protein sources with mealworms in high-fat diets could slow...

The average person accidentally consumes one pound of bugs each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is because fruits, vegetables, spices and many processed foods are legally permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contain tiny levels of bug parts, which add up over time. For example, fig paste can contain up to 13 insect heads in 100 grams, canned fruit juices can have a maggot for every 250 milliliters and 10 grams of hops used to make beer can be the home for 2,500 small sap-sucking insects. And while there is much debate...

Mayor Adams Commits to Reducing City’s Food-Based Emissions by 33 Percent by 2030 After Releasing new Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Incorporating Emissions From Food April 17, 2023 Video available at: https://youtu.be/wQLTqu311Oo New Inventory Shows That Buildings, Transportation, and Food Represent New York City’s Top Three Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions City Also Launches Corporate Challenge to Reduce Private Sector Food Emissions by 25 Percent NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today released the city's first integrated greenhouse gas inventory, which...

Several breakfast staples saw sharp price increases due to a perfect storm of bad weather and disease outbreaks—and continued effects from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Egg prices increased 8.5% in January from a month earlier and are up 70.1% over the past year, the highest annual rate since 1973. The deadliest avian-influenza outbreak on record has devastated poultry flocks across the U.S., leading the price of eggs to rise more than any other grocery item in 2022, according to Information Resources Inc. U.S. egg inventories were 29% lower in the final week of December 2022 than at the beginning of...

On a clear August morning in southeastern Pennsylvania, more than a dozen adults and children stood in a park pavilion, listening to mealworms sizzling in a hot pan. They were learning about entomophagy — the human consumption of insects — from Lisa Sanchez, a naturalist with the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation, who has taught the practice for 25 years. Suddenly, one mealworm sputtered out of the pan. Six-year-old Adaline Welk — without prompting — popped it into her mouth. The crowd cheered for the newly minted entomophagist. “It’s not that bad!” she exclaimed. “It kind of tastes...

Farmers in Germany have been banned from properly fertilizing large areas of their land under strict EU rules pushing the green agenda. The use of nitrate fertilizers has been further restricted for large swathes of farmland in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is now likely to drastically reduce yields. Although German authorities have implemented the ban, it is ultimately at the behest of the European Union, which is seeking to reduce the amount of nitrogen to tackle ‘climate change.’ The policy has already wreaked havoc in the Netherlands. As The Daily Fetched reported in September: Dutch farmers have risen in protest to...

They want governments to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation TreatyReligious groups and activists around the globe have called for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and just transition from non-renewable resources in a global campaign letter released ahead of the global climate summit in Egypt. The open multi-faith letter released on Nov. 1 is the result of an initiative spearheaded by the Laudato Si Movement and GreenFaith, a grassroots multi-faith movement for climate justice, which together represents more than 1.5 billion supporters. The letter called upon “governments to urgently commence negotiations to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation...

Budget supermarket Aldi is considering selling edible insect recipe kits as the cost of living crisis hits families. Bugs such as crickets are known to be a cheap and sustainable form of protein. Now Aldi is weighing up whether to stock products by Yum Bug, which make the insect recipe kits. Yum Bug founders Aaron Thomas and Leo Taylor, both 28, are competing against other start-ups to get their product on the supermarket's shelves. The duo were picked from hundreds of applicant's to appear on Channel 4's 'Aldi's Next Big Thing' tomorrow.