*WARNING: Do not read if bugs make you squeamish.
In case you missed it, there has recently been a big push in eating bugs. There are lots of youtubes of celebrities eating such and encouraging others to do so as well.
It is touted as being a solution to our planet’s growing “food and climate” crises. Throughout our history, humans and animals around the world have consumed these protein and nutrient-rich bugs.
Fortunately, this habit hasn't been widely adopted as part of modern Western diets. However things may be changing. A growing number of consumers in the West are now embracing entomophagy, or insect-eating as a new dietary habit. Insect producing farms are opening up globally.
Although high in protein and some nutrients, the downside is much more concerning. According to a recent PubMed research paper, here’s what they aren’t telling you:
Parasites were detected in 244 (81.33%) out of 300 (100%) examined insect farms. In 206 (68.67%) of the cases, the identified parasites were pathogenic for insects only; in 106 (35.33%) cases, parasites were potentially parasitic for animals; and in 91 (30.33%) cases, parasites were potentially pathogenic for humans.
"...edible insects are often infected by pathogens and parasites. These pathogens also pose an indirect threat for humans..."
To ease its use into our everyday diet, parasite flour and colorings are already in commonly eaten foods.
This label below is from Tropicana orange juice.
Tropicana is labeling their juice blends as "100% Juice," but it includes the use of cochineal extract as "coloring." Cochineal extract is a red dye made out of dried female cochineal insects.
Cochineal Extract has no place in fruit juice claiming to be "100% Juice." According to their ranking list of ingredients, there's more bug extract than actual strawberry juice concentrate (the last ingredient listed)!
Another example are these nutty flavored chips made with cricket flour. It is promoted as a high protein chip, and I assume gluten free.
In light of increasing chronic health problems, it might be wise to avoid eating anything made with bugs, since most of these products come with a side dose of parasites.
Reading the ingredient list on the package can be helpful, but bug ingredients are not always blatantly labeled as bugs. Obviously if you see cricket powder or mealworm, it is fairly obvious that bugs are in there. But insect ingredients can also go by other names, such as numbers and letters.
Bottom line: If you don’t recognize the list of ingredients as a familiar conventional food ingredient, don’t buy it. And more importantly, if you value your health, avoid eating bugs. Once you become infected with parasites, chronic health problems are inevitable.
P.S. Parasites love heavy metals (e.g. mercury from amalgam fillings). Together, they will set up biofilms in you that will be challenging to eradicate.
If you like this article you may also like: Are My Mercury Fillings Bad for Me?
