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?

Spain: Mutant cockroaches pose health risks Image of a cockroach. Credit: chaipanya/Shutterstock.com Recent findings suggest a disturbing trend in the genetic alterations of cockroaches, directly linked to ongoing climate changes. So far in 2024, Spain has reported a significant rise in cockroach infestations, with incidents increasing by 33 per cent compared to the previous year. Experts, including Jorge Galvan, director of the National Association of Environmental Health Companies (Anecpla), attribute this surge to the record temperatures that are accelerating the metabolic cycles of these pests, notably the Germanic cockroach, commonly found in homes and food-related businesses. Most Read on Euro...

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 last time Brood XIX and Brood XIII emerged from underground at the same time, Thomas Jefferson was president.

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...

A new restaurant in Finsbury Park boasts burratas, rarebit and tacos – all made with crickets. But is insect protein really the future?With jaunty yellow branding, moody lighting and the promise of ‘small plates’, Yum Bug, a new restaurant in Finsbury Park, north London, might be any trendy rollout. In fact, it is one of a kind. Yum Bug advertises itself as ‘Britain’s first permanent edible insect restaurant’. Rather than lamb, tofu or fish, Yum Bug uses crickets for its protein. Inside, brave pioneers eat dishes including Welsh rarebit made with minced cricket, burrata with whole roasted crickets, even pulled...

Trillions of cicadas will emerge across several U.S. states this spring in an event one expert dubbed "cicada-geddon." Not only are more cicadas than usual expected this year, but some of them will be "zombie cicadas" that are infected by a sexually transmitted fungus that makes them hyper-sexual. Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground and only emerge after 13 or 17 years. This year, two broods of cicadas will emerge: Brood XIX, which comes out every 13 years, will emerge in the Georgia and Southeast, and Brood XIII, which emerges every 17 years, will appear in Illinois. With...

People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates -- sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.

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...

Abstract Global food production is anticipated to rise along with the growth of the global population. As a result, creative solutions must be devised to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious, affordable, and safe food. Consequently, including insects in diets has the potential to improve global food and nutrition security. This paper aims to share recent findings by covering edible termites as the main aspect, from their consumption record until consumer acceptance. A total of 53 termite species are reported as edible ones and distributed in 6 biogeographic realms. Generally, termites have a nutrient composition that is suitable for...

Producing enough food for a growing world population is an urgent global challenge. And it’s complicated by the fact that climate change is warming the Earth and making farming harder in many places. Food production is a big contributor to climate change, so it’s critically important to be able to measure greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector accurately. In a new study, we show that the food system generates about 35% of total global man-made greenhouse gas emissions

It’s official: 2024 belongs to the cicadas. This spring, two different broods of cicadas — one that lives on a 13-year cycle and the other that lives on a 17-year cycle — will emerge at the same time from underground in a rare, synchronized event that last occurred in 1803. Billions of the winged insects will make an appearance across the Midwest and the Southeast, beginning in some places in late April, for a raucous mating ritual that tends to inspire fascination and annoyance in equal measure. This year’s dual emergence is a once-in-a-lifetime event. While any given 13-year brood...

The Brood X cicadas are about to emerge, and anthropology expert Cortni Borgerson explains how you can harvest and cook them. After 17 years underground, billions of periodical cicadas known as Brood X are set to emerge, and we hope you’ve brought your appetite. See, a swarm of cicadas may sound scary, but they’re quite harmless and, in actuality, can be a new food to introduce into your diet. Calling all adventurous eaters! Assistant Professor of Anthropology Cortni Borgerson, whose research focuses on natural resource use, sustainability and food security, says that the fact that they make a tasty snack...

Move over mosquitos. There's another blood-sucking biter Americans need to guard against because it can spread disease: the sand fly.Sand flies are tiny tan flies — about a quarter of the size of a mosquito — that live in warm, wet, rural and forested areas. In other parts of the world, they are known to transmit a parasite — a single-celled organism — that causes an infectious disease called leishmaniasis. They're most active at night, and they're so tiny they can slip through ordinary mosquito nets on tents or window screens. "Sometimes you don't even notice that you've been bitten,"...

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...

Several Italian producers have been perfecting cricket pasta, pizza and snacks. At a restaurant near Turin, chef Simone Loddo has adapted his fresh pasta recipe, which dates back nearly 1,000 years - the dough is now 15% cricket powder. It emanates a strong, nutty smell. While insect farming is increasing in Europe, so too is hostility towards the idea. Amid concerns that insects might be associated with Italian cuisine, three government ministers announced four decrees aimed at a crackdown. "It's fundamental that these flours are not confused with food made in Italy," Until now, the possibilities for producing and commercialising...

The family of a late Georgia mother believes she died of a severe allergic reaction after she stepped on a fire ant pile at her home. After her tragic death, Cathy Weed is being remembered as a mother to everyone on Mountain View High School’s baseball team, for which her 15-year-old son plays. The team’s players stood side by side with each other on the field Sunday to honor her. Weed died Saturday after relatives say she stepped on an ant pile at her Lawrenceville home. Her family says she had a severe allergy to fire ants, and they believe...

The World Economic Forum promotes eating insects to solve climate change concerns around food production. But as The Economist notes: "We won’t convince Europeans and Americans to go out in big numbers and start eating insects.” The United Nations forecasts global population will rise to over 9.8 billion people by 2050, with the demand for animal-derived protein expected to increase even more. As such, Texas A&M University predicts global meat production to skyrocket in the coming decades. However, animal-derived food, including beef, pork, and poultry, is becoming economically expensive and has been increasingly associated with the depletion of resources, emission...

There is a war on food. As an absolute necessity of life, this seems like a ridiculously counterintuitive thing to do, but there you go.Why is food suddenly a bad thing? Easy peasy: Farming uses nitrogen, and nitrogen is being blamed for global warming, so of course it must be eliminated. In the name of saving the planet, huge swaths of global food production are being targeted."Rice is to blame for around 10% of global emissions of methane, a gas that over two decades, traps about 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide," intones the AP. "Scientists say that...