Are Insects a Popular Food Item in Grocery Stores?

Just a few decades ago, most people in Western countries had never eaten sushi. Until fairly recently, consuming raw fish was considered unorthodox, to say the least. Today, of course, America has become a nation of sushi connoisseurs, and our palettes are becoming increasingly adventurous. And our gastronomical adventures needn't end with sushi, if Switzerland's example is to be followed. This month, Switzerland took the first step towards the next culinary frontier when it became legal for grocery stores to sell food products containing three types of insects -- mealworms, locusts and crickets -- as long as food safety practices are followed. Starting this month, the Swiss supermarket chain Coop plans to market three insect-based products, including a burger and meatballs containing insect proteins.

A different source of protein:

• Eating bugs is already an accepted practice in many parts of the world. Approximately two billion people already eat more than 1,400 different arthropod species.
• Like meat and fish, insects are rich in protein and contain essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Insects are a sustainable, Earth-friendly food source. They emit less greenhouse gas and ammonia than conventional livestock, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.