Remember when lobster was poor man’s food? Since none of us lived in the mid-19th century, the answer is no. But, some 200 years later, as we prepare for a population of nearly 10B, people are opening their minds (and mouths) to new possibilities: edible insects.
Insect snacking goes beyond the cockroach street stall in Bangkok. It’s estimated that up to 80% of people around the world already eat these not-so-creepy crawlies.
Why? When you really boil it down, crickets have:
The yuck factor, for one. Companies get the stigma — and while they work to change it, they’ve also focused on products that are, umm, more digestible. From bug burgers to cricket-flour pancakes, people are searching for ways to embrace the trend, but mask the ick.
The jury’s still out, but some restaurants, investors, and grocery conglomerates are placing their bets:
Your furry friends aren’t turning their noses. The $442B animal feed market is open to some insect-based disruption, with bigwigs like Nestle Purina starting to experiment with crickets.
So whether for man or man’s best friend, it looks like it might be a Bug’s Life after all.