Images

Cafe, croissant ... worms? EU agency says worms safe to eat

Cafe, croissant ... worms? EU agency says worms safe to eat

We're all for experimental food but this might take some more convincing.
15 Jan, 2021

The vaunted Mediterranean diet and French gastronomy are getting some competition: the European Union’s food safety agency says worms are safe to eat.

And while we're all for experimental food, this might take some more convincing.

The Parma-based agency published a scientific opinion on the safety of dried yellow mealworms and gave them a thumbs up. Researchers said the worms, either eaten whole or in powdered form, are a protein-rich snack or ingredient for other foods.

Allergic reactions may occur, especially depending on the type of feed given to the bugs, known officially as Tenebrio molitor larva. But overall “the panel concludes that the (novel food) is safe under the proposed uses and use levels".

Thus, the European Union has now thrown its weight behind worms in much the same way the United Nations has. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in 2013 championed edible bugs as a low-fat, high-protein food for people, pets and livestock that are good for the environment and help feed the hungry.

Comments

AAA Jan 15, 2021 02:07pm
In short world is facing overpopulation and food scarcity.
Recommend (0)
saleem Jan 15, 2021 02:08pm
Worms can increase platelets. Nawaz Sharif should eat handful of worms everyday. It would be good for him. He should develop the taste as he would have plenty of them to eat in grave.
Recommend (0)
Pops Jan 15, 2021 02:42pm
Are they Halal?
Recommend (0)
Baasha Jan 15, 2021 02:49pm
Is it halaal?
Recommend (0)
Dia Jan 15, 2021 03:21pm
If killing and eating mammals and birds are safe, worms are a lot more sustainable and full of nutrition, locusts for example.
Recommend (0)
ilyas Jan 15, 2021 03:29pm
So now Worm Biryani and Bugs Karahi is coming to our menus...
Recommend (0)
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 15, 2021 04:16pm
No doubt, Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine is penetrating the European market in a slow and study fashion.
Recommend (0)
Teddy Jan 15, 2021 04:18pm
Poor people in pakistan have been having since ages.
Recommend (0)
Ahmed Jan 15, 2021 04:34pm
Always knew that was true.
Recommend (0)
Zak Jan 15, 2021 05:24pm
In India its normal diet as no other food for the 90% poor.
Recommend (0)
Patriot Jan 15, 2021 07:20pm
@Baasha very intelligent thinking
Recommend (0)
Browngirl Jan 15, 2021 09:28pm
Getting worms would be the thing of the past.
Recommend (0)
Sara Jan 15, 2021 09:33pm
@Zak Most Indians are vegetarians and they will starve but would never eat worms. Indians are more picky and choosy about their diet unlike the Chinese.
Recommend (0)
M. Saeed Jan 16, 2021 12:01am
@Pops , if locust is halal, why not it's elementary larva stage?
Recommend (0)
Chris Roberts Jan 16, 2021 02:26am
One needs only to conduct a Google seach on the history of eating insects to see that humans have been consuming them for thousands of years all over the globe. In ancient Rome, beetle larvae were enjoyed by the nobility. Today, butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and cicadas are among the insects that are consumed, some even being made into pasta and burgers, or processed into flour. For many years in Montreal, Canada, the insectarium hosted a week-long food fair with chefs from around the world preparing and serving dishes and desserts made with insects - beetles on a skewer, chocolate-dipped ants and ice cream, insect pizza, etc., etc... Mealworm biryani or worm crepes, anyone??
Recommend (0)
M jalal Jan 16, 2021 02:51am
It would be inhuman act to start feeding on dirty foods like these, and moreover the world has the potential to render clean food, and the scarcity of food is just because of the uneven distribution of food resources and wealth.
Recommend (0)
Akram Jan 16, 2021 03:37am
@Sara "Most Indians are vegetarians and they will starve but would never eat worms." Oh so that's why so many starving people live in India.
Recommend (0)
Ali Mehdi Jan 16, 2021 04:09am
These should be given to our politicians as these would suit their appetite
Recommend (0)
Gau Jan 16, 2021 06:08am
Disgusting, vomit, fast!
Recommend (0)
Gau Jan 16, 2021 06:08am
Disgusting, personal, choice!
Recommend (0)
Zak Jan 16, 2021 07:01am
@Sara '@Zak Most Indians are vegetarians and they will starve but would never eat worms. Indians are more picky and choosy about their diet unlike the Chinese.' Chinese eat anything and Indians eat what's left.
Recommend (0)
Sand Jan 17, 2021 03:53pm
Do you want another Corona now?
Recommend (0)
Indian Jan 18, 2021 09:47am
Have seen Escargot in Paris
Recommend (0)