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Ways to start eating insects

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: Ways to start eating insects

#11

Post by masklinn »

ch0wn wrote: post #6
BenderV wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I asked myself the same question. Why do we need to replace meat by something? Are vegans really lacking protein? Moreover, even if it's true, if we just take into account an important diminution of the meat consumption, will people lack proteins? I'm assuming we eat more meat than we ever did in our history.

The comment you replied to talked about cheap and sustainable sources of protein. Meat is neither.

Chicken, pork, salmon and tuna are definitely cheap sources of protein (depending on the country, but generally at least one of them is cheap).

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#12

Post by rl3 »

pilsetnieks wrote: post #2

I somehow don't think this is what they mean with "eating insects is the future" with the $700 worm hive and $300 ant booze.

For that price, I'd want my $300 ant booze delivered via ants. Watching the bottle seemingly scoot itself across the bar counter would probably be far more satisfying than actually drinking the stuff.

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#13

Post by pistoriusp »

phreeza wrote: post #3

So why should we eat insects? The standard answer is: it is a cheap and sustainable source of protein. But I have yet to see a convincing argument that it is cheaper and more sustainable than soy protein, aka tofu.

What makes you mention that it's sustainable?

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#14

Post by tomp »

pheroden wrote: post #8
phreeza wrote: post #3

So why should we eat insects? The standard answer is: it is a cheap and sustainable source of protein. But I have yet to see a convincing argument that it is cheaper and more sustainable than soy protein, aka tofu.

Some soy is fine, but if we're talking as completely replacing your meat, it could be too much estrogen like compounds. Hence breasts in men and an increased risk of breast cancer in women. I haven't seen enough studies to definitively rule these out. Besides, variety is always good. It's never wise to put all your eggs in a single basket.

There's just one thing I don't get... Too much carbohydrates are supposed to be bad. Too much soy is supposed to be bad. But the Japanese live the longest, so obviously they can't be that bad. So one of these assumptions must be false:

- Japanese eat a lot of rice and/or soy (or products made from them) - Japanese have different genetics that allows them to avoid the negative effects of carbs/soy.

We could probably throw fish (mercury) in the mix as well.

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#15

Post by phreeza »

pistoriusp wrote: post #13
phreeza wrote: post #3

So why should we eat insects? The standard answer is: it is a cheap and sustainable source of protein. But I have yet to see a convincing argument that it is cheaper and more sustainable than soy protein, aka tofu.

What makes you mention that it's sustainable?

I don't know, just seems to be the general vibe from many of the recent 'eating insects' stories: raising insects is more sustainable than regular meet because it consumes less meat and land, and emits less greenhouse gasses.

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#16

Post by TeMPOraL »

pistoriusp wrote: post #13
phreeza wrote: post #3

So why should we eat insects? The standard answer is: it is a cheap and sustainable source of protein. But I have yet to see a convincing argument that it is cheaper and more sustainable than soy protein, aka tofu.

What makes you mention that it's sustainable?

Probably because the main argument behind starting to eat insects is that meat production in the West is unsustainable and devastating ecologically; the main reason we even get to enjoy meat is, from what I've heard, heavy subsidizing of meat production. I've read people saying meat is 10x cheaper than it should be, based just on production costs alone.

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#17

Post by [deleted] »

tomp wrote: post #14
pheroden wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some soy is fine, but if we're talking as completely replacing your meat, it could be too much estrogen like compounds. Hence breasts in men and an increased risk of breast cancer in women. I haven't seen enough studies to definitively rule these out. Besides, variety is always good. It's never wise to put all your eggs in a single basket.

There's just one thing I don't get... Too much carbohydrates are supposed to be bad. Too much soy is supposed to be bad. But the Japanese live the longest, so obviously they can't be that bad. So one of these assumptions must be false: - Japanese eat a lot of rice and/or soy (or products made from them) - Japanese have different genetics that allows them to avoid the negative effects of carbs/soy. We could probably t…

[deleted]

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#18

Post by such_a_casual »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #16
pistoriusp wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes you mention that it's sustainable?

Probably because the main argument behind starting to eat insects is that meat production in the West is unsustainable and devastating ecologically; the main reason we even get to enjoy meat is, from what I've heard, heavy subsidizing of meat production. I've read people saying meat is 10x cheaper than it should be, based just on production costs alone.

This isn't unique to meat and leaving out that information is misleading. Food in the US is heavily subsidized and overseen by the government for obvious reasons. Just like water is too important to leave to the free market, food is heavily regulated to ensure the health of the nation.

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#19

Post by GordonS »

> what they’re doing is feeding fly larvae on food waste to raise maggots. The maggots are processed into meal, which can be used as a high-protein feed for chickens, fish and pigs. The maggot meal stands to be more sustainable

Now this I find interesting! It would be a much easier sell than humans eating the insects.

I'd like to know more about the sustainability claims though - anyone know anything about this?

Re: Ways to start eating insects

#20

Post by kspaans »

masklinn wrote: post #11
ch0wn wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The comment you replied to talked about cheap and sustainable sources of protein. Meat is neither.

Chicken, pork, salmon and tuna are definitely cheap sources of protein (depending on the country, but generally at least one of them is cheap).

That cheapness is mainly due to non-priced-in externalities (greenhouse gas farts! water use!) and poor treatment of animals (not that I'm a PETA member or anything).

EDIT: And as mentioned elsewhere: government subsidies in many countries (and/or import/export controls).

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