(OPINION) Shoppers are lost for words after noticing dried crickets and worms on sale in the chip aisle at a petrol station – with many saying the ‘crunchy insects’ are a step too far. The creepy crawlies were spotted on the shelf of a Sydney service station by Soulla Chamberlain, the owner of a wholefoods business.
But despite her understanding of food trends in the health food space the businesswoman couldn’t fathom eating bugs. ‘We can now buy crickets and worm snacks from our local gas station,’ she said. I reckon people in third-world countries would be thinking something along the lines of:
‘you mean to tell me that privileged westerners have access to grass-fed beef, pastured eggs, wild fish, and full-fat dairy and CHOOSE to eat insects instead?!’ Edible insects, like crickets, are a delicacy across the developed world, as well as in developing countries across Africa and Asia.
In recent years they have become known in Australia as a good source of protein and other vitamins. ‘Am I missing something? Not to mention all the other crap that is listed in the ingredients,’ she said, pointing to the flavour boosters on the side of the packet.
And she wasn’t the only person outraged by the snacks. ‘Make it stop,’ one woman wrote on the post. While another demanded where the picture was taken – adding a sick emoji to her comment. ‘Randwick service station,’ she said, explaining the product was found in the affluent eastern suburbs.
‘It is a huge no from me,’ said another. While a third asked: ‘Are people really stupid enough to eat these.’ ‘Parasites wrapped in plastics and industrially processed – the most environmentally unfriendly and disgusting product to reach our shelves yet,’ said another. Others said they would consider eating insects.
‘It’s the additives that get me, yuck! We already eat invertebrates just ones that live under the sea. I’m not saying I’d jump at the chance to eat an insect but maybe we’re unnecessarily squeamish because of our conditioning.’
More than 100 people commented on the post, most were unsure about the idea of eating the bugs. But some people have built their whole health lifestyle around the sustainable protein option, telling FEMAIL eating bugs is the way of the future.
Personal trainers Suji Yoo and Alessandro Ranieri are always searching for delicious new foods to try and couldn’t believe it when they stumbled across the creepy crawlies and enjoyed them. ‘They taste exactly like prawns when you eat them whole, and you can ground them down into a powder which goes well in everything, even burgers,’ Alessandro said. (Daily Mail)
