Entomophagy
Entomophagy is the concept of humans eating insects for food. This culinary area is regular in developing regions of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, but uncommon in the developed world.
Some insects are eaten as larva, others as adults.
Accounts show that humans eat 1200+ species of insects.
In some parts of the world, insects are used for human food ("Entomophagy"), while being a taboo in other places. There are proponents of developing this use to provide a major source of protein in human nutrition. Since it is impossible to entirely eliminate pest insects from the human food chain, insects already are present in many foods, especially grains. Most people do not realize that food laws in many countries do not prohibit insect parts in food, but rather limit the quantity. According to cultural materialist anthropologist Marvin Harris, the eating of insects is taboo in cultures that have protein sources that require less work like farm birds or cattle.
External links
- Outside Magazine: It's Hard to Eat Just One, a defense of the practice, April 1997
- Creepy Crawly Cuisine, a site made to encourage American people to eat bugs
- Yahoo Directory: Entomophagy
- University of Kentucky: Insect Snacks from Around the World