Food For Thought. Your Favorite Foods Could Contain Insects.
I was recently on the hunt for some recipes. I thought about trying out some healthier alternatives to my current diet. I somehow stumbled on some information that had me bug-eyed with my jaw hitting the floor. It left me stunned to know that I have been consuming bugs my whole life. I don’t know how many of you were aware of this, but I, honest to God, did not know.
I am aware that in some cultures, insects are part of their staple diets, and in others, it is considered even delicacies, but for me, knowing my food may contain insect bits gives me the heebie-jeebies. I was gathering all this information while enjoying my bar of chocolate. I was mid-chew when I learned that my chocolate most likely contains around seventy-odd bug bits. I am ashamed to say but, it disgustingly slipped out of my mouth into my lap.
As my search continued, I became a bit teary-eyed to learn that peanut butter was among these insect-infused foods. I love peanut butter. I eat it almost every day. Sadly my toast will never be the same again.
Two tablespoons of peanut butter have about eight insect fragments and a tiny bit of rodent hair. Considering way more than two tablespoons get lathered onto my toast and a further two go into my mouth while waiting for my coffee to brew, I find myself consuming twice as many bits of insect.
It brings me to my subsequent discovery. One that had me going, No, no, no, for the love of God, please don’t let it be so!
Yet, it was still there when I opened my eyes after my little prayer. Coffee beans may have an average of ten milligrams or more of animal poop per pound (0.454 Kg). Yikes! Being a confessed coffee addict, yep, that was like taking a punch in the gut.
I honestly did not want to go on, but curiosity got the better of me. I thought to share this information with you. I know that ignorance is bliss and all that jazz, but I would like to have the chance to decide what I want to consume. If you like to remain in that ignorant bliss bubble, I don’t blame you. ( If this is of your choice, then I highly recommend you don’t read further). If you fall under the ‘ I don’t mind a little critter in my meal’ group, then kudos to you, my friend. You are much braver than me. You might enjoy learning the next bit.
Most of our favorite food may contain bits and; pieces of insects that we didn’t know were there. Like:
PASTA
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my sons would be devastated to know that one of their favorite foods, spaghetti has about four hundred insect parts and around nine rodent hairs in each box. There is no way to get rid of these little hitchhikers taking a free ride along the processing chain. I don’t think that their spaghetti and meatballs will be eaten with as much gusto as they would normally. On the other hand, I wonder if they would even mind. They devour almost anything and, they are known to try anything at least once.
RAISINS
Golden raisins are allowed to contain thirty fruit fly eggs and ten or more whole insects in every 8 ounces (226.796 grams).
CANDIES, CAKES, & ICE CREAM
Carmine dye is a bright red pigment derived from carminic acid, produced by insects like the cochineal. Cochineal is tiny bugs found on cacti in South America. This dye has been in use since the 15th century. Today it is found in anything from yogurt, ice cream, candy, and even lipsticks.
The use of this dye has caused some controversy, especially for people who practice vegetarian, vegan and kosher diets. Carmine is more commonly known as E120 or Natural Red 4 which, is reported to be non-harmful and natural. Yet, at the same time, it can cause adverse effects to those who may have an allergy to it. Some say that it causes hyperactivity in kids. Carmine or E120/ Natural Red 4; can be found in yogurt, cake mix, maraschino cherries, vitamins, candy, ice cream, paint, and cosmetics.
On the upside, in comparison to the dangerous synthetic chemicals that lurk in our food system, consuming insects would fair more superior.
For all you candy lovers out there, more bad news, I’m afraid. Know that your crunchie candy coating comes from secretions from the back end of the female Lac bug. This coating is commonly known as shellac or confectioners glaze. Jeeze, I will not look at a box of Smarties or packet of Skittles the same ever again. Now I will find myself obsessively checking out the labels for everything I buy.
HERBS & SPICES
Wonder why our food tastes so good?
It could be the extra spices we are adding on. Leading the pack of these insect-infused spices is our loving ground pepper, where 400 tiny pieces are present in just 2oz (56.699 grams), and coming in a close second is our trusty cinnamon that has 400 insect fragments in 50g. Maybe no more milk tart for me. Well, I don’t want to be hasty, so the jury might still be out on that one.
Other spices include turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, and dried ginger. These are a must in every meal at my home. LOL, I wish you could see my face right about now. My son says that I look almost pained.
Bits of the insects are more commonly present in dried sweet peppers, chilies, red pepper products like red pepper flakes, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Wowza! that there is 90% of my spices in my pantry.
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BUG JUICE, ANYONE?
Canned fruit juices may contain anything from snails to mites. The little buggers love feasting on fruits, and some of them make it into the juice-making process.
Isinglass is a form of collagen that has been used since the 1700s to clarify wine and beer, and it derives from the fish bladders. That doesn’t sound too bad. Right?
If you are a beer lover, you would like to know that there are about 1800 aphids in a bottle of beer. Up to 2500 aphids are allowed in 10grams of hops. Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea, commonly known as the greenfly or black fly.
BROCCOLI AND CANNED MUSHROOMS
Frozen broccoli and canned mushrooms are not without our crunchy and furry little friends. The FDA allows up to 60 of them for every 100g of broccoli, and a can of mushroom may contain 19 larvae( maggots )and 74 mites. Mmmm, not sounding so yummy right now.
BERRIES
Raspberries and blueberries make sweet treats for insects like worms and beetles. The FDA allows up to four larvae or ten whole insects per 500 grams of berries.
Did you know that If you soak your strawberries in salt water for about 20 minutes, you will be amazed at all the worms that come out of them? That little snippet of info was to test out. I wouldn’t advise using the salt as it will diminish the sweetness of the fruit. Just wash it like you usually would.
It is safe to say that by the end of my research, my jaw was not on the floor anymore. I came out of it with a little more understanding and some acceptance.
Terro, an insect control company based in Pennsylvania, released a report that an average person consumes 140,000 insect pieces every year. Don’t panic- they are said to be perfectly safe for consumption. Even the FDA allows a certain amount of insect matter to end up in our food in safe quantities.
Many cultures around the world eat them as part of their diet. We have been consuming them for most of our lives and didn’t even know it.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Learning about this has been somewhat of a shocker to me. I am a squirmish kind of person by nature. It is safe to say I am not a bug person. I am sure that I was consuming these bugs my whole life and did not even know it. The truth of the matter is unless I find a way of making all my dried herbs and spices- I don’t have a choice but to use what I buy. Maybe I can buy my veggies and fruit fresh and wash it myself instead of reaching for the more convenient can variety, but what about the little buggers that are in the flesh of my fruit? I find myself in a bit of a fix all the same. I conclude that if I choose to abstain from all the coffee, chocolate, PEANUT BUTTER, canned food, beverages, spices, bread (the little buggers are also in the flour), herbs and spices, and pasta, then my family would most probably starve.
So, I guess I have to make peace with having the little buggers in my food. Nobody can tell me that I am not daring or exotic enough to try out bugs which are fast becoming a trend worldwide.