THE HAGUE: The traditional shopping list of bread, milk, eggs and cheese is set to change in the Netherlands with a major supermarket chain unveiling its first-ever range of insect-based products this week.

From Friday, customers at Jumbo stores in two northern Dutch cities will be able to add “buggy balls”, “buggy burgers” and “buggy crisps” to their shopping carts in a roll-out plan to put edible insect products on shelves in 400 stores across the country by early next year.

“Edible insects are not only healthy, but sustainable and give the opportunity to do something about replenishing ailing food resources,” a Jumbo spokeswoman said.

Although some insect-based foods are already commercially available at Dutch wholesalers, Jumbo is the first national supermarket chain to stock shelves with products made from meal-worms, buffalo worms and moth larvae, she added.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014