Would you eat insects if it helped to save the planet?

Polls

18th January 2021

ONE meat alternative that we haven’t talked about might gross you out a bit, but could become a big part of our diets in the future – insects!

It’s estimated that two billion people around the world eat insects and that 1,900 species have been used as food at some point.

Scorpions and spiders are very popular snacks (although technically they’re not insects, as they have eight legs, not six)

We spoke to Dr Tilly Collins, an expert at Imperial College London who studies creepy-crawly cuisine.

Are some insects better than others?

We’re still learning about that. Crickets are looking really excellent on all fronts. They’re low in saturated fats, rich in protein, low in carbohydrates, low in sugar, so insects are excellent all-round. And they’re not only excellent for us, but as dog food, cat food and fish food, and even for chicken food. They’re really excellent and much closer to their natural diet.

Are there any negatives to eating insects?

The only negatives are that we haven’t got enough information on some of them, and also overcoming the yuk factor.

Have you tried many yourself?

Oh yes, I’ve eaten quite a lot. I’m quite happy to eat insects! I just object when bits get stuck between my teeth, so I’m all for grinding them up.

 Do you have a favourite that you’ve munched on?

Mealworms are my favourite. Especially fried up with garlic and a bit of soy sauce!

 

What do you think? Could you munch on insects to save the planet?

Would you eat insects if it helped to save the planet?

123 Comments

Leave a Reply

shaye123 · 5 years ago

ONLY to save our planet

shaye123 · 5 years ago

1 ST comment

kuhuzoo9 · 5 years ago

True no other reason for me to eat bugs🦗🐛💍🤢🤮

crystalx27 · 5 years ago

Insects contain proteins and energy which are good for us. I think I would be willing to try them, especially if it will help save the planet.

vvvv · 5 years ago

Why can't everyone just become vegetarians? Insects are living things with feelings too. It's not JUST the yuk factor. They deserve to live, and so do other animals. If you stop eating meat doesn't mean you eat insects. My favourite quote is:
" Everything alive deserves a chance to grow" - Meg McCaffrey, The Burning Maze, Trials of Apollo, Rick Riordan
I think that would be even better for the planet.
My answer is no.
Unless you mean in a different way, like an evil something is trying to destroy the world and saving the world includes eating some insects. I'd be happy to if those insects are already dead, but if it involves killing them, I'd try to find another option, unless this isn't possible.

ameliau · 5 years ago

I would eat them if it helped to save the planet because they contain protein and energy which is very healthy for our body. It is not like I have meat in most of my meals anyway. So I guess eating bugs won't be that bad if it is just dead animals which I guess can't be that disgusting. If they helped save the planet I would at least consider trying them because they might be nice. But it always is trying them just in case you think they are nice. Although if you don't think they are nice at least you y have tried them. #I WOULD TRY THEM IF THEY HELPED SAVE THE PLANET

aqua28 · 5 years ago

I wouldn't eat insects because I believe it is wrong to kill an animal that doesn't want to be killed even if it can't feel pain

mr.shark08 · 5 years ago

I would only do this on 2 occasions: to save the planet aNd if it was a non-venomous-non-bitey-inscect

lottielove · 5 years ago

Eww!

heh · 5 years ago

I partly agree.
The future of other peoples live is MUCH more important than what we eat. I personally wouldn't mind eating insects, after all, how else would we have discovered all the other foods like potatoes if we hadn't tried eating them?

I also disagree.
Just because they're little doesn't mean their lives aren't worth anything. They still have lives, and don't deserve to be eaten just because us humans want to. You have to imagine you are them, about to be eaten by menacing beasts that don't care for you just because you are little compared to them. You cannot just do things because you want to. But still, there are 3 parts to an argument: the 1st person's reasoning, the 2nd persons reasoning and the truth.

heh · 5 years ago

I agree with vvvv

safaripig · 5 years ago

IF our planet was about to break of climate change, then I would. Any other things, NO!!!

asbml · 5 years ago

I agree with vvvv and heh and I also wouldn't eat insects because they're too discusting.
But I wouldn't become vegetarian because it's bad for children to not have the right vitamins, protien and iron(that come from meat). So I would just eat less meat or be vegetarian every other day.

ninjakiwi · 5 years ago

i am vegatairm

sammyboy · 5 years ago

that is disgusting

ninjakiwi · 5 years ago

i agree with vvv

fishgirl2 · 5 years ago

Maybe.

ONLY to save the planet Earth 🌍
Y.U.C.K

fishgirl2 · 5 years ago

🤢🤮

rollersk8t · 5 years ago

Eating insects wouldn't save the planet! They play a big part in the Earth's biodiversity! They need to fertilise plants and keep crops healthy otherwise bye bye food.

rsingh1 · 5 years ago

Disgustang 🤮🤮

fox64 · 4 years ago

Yes, only to save our planet... however I am a vegetarian... so... nah.

oceangirl · 4 years ago

I would ONLY to SAVE the PLANET

hermie1 · 4 years ago

Didn't hear anything

otisbing · 4 years ago

No

otisbing · 4 years ago

I am a 1/2 vegetarian and I think instead of bugs.........(drumroll)...........

VEGETABLES!!!!!!!!! + FRUIT!!!!!!!!!!!
🥗🥒🌶🌽🥕🥦🍆🍅🍑🍉🍌🍒🍇🥭🍓🍍🍈🥥

nyan_123 · 4 years ago

I agree with vvvv. No.

amerindian · 4 years ago

Ew no way I'll have ham instead please!

brh_21 · 4 years ago

bugs tast good

athenalily · 4 years ago

Why can't everyone just become vegetarians? Insects are living things with feelings too. It's not JUST the yuk factor. They deserve to live, and so do other animals. If you stop eating meat doesn't mean you eat insects. My favourite quote is:
" Everything alive deserves a chance to grow" - Meg McCaffrey, The Burning Maze, Trials of Apollo, Rick Riordan
I think that would be even better for the planet.
My answer is no.
Unless you mean in a different way, like an evil something is trying to destroy the world and saving the world includes eating some insects. I'd be happy to if those insects are already dead, but if it involves killing them, I'd try to find another option, unless this isn't possible.

I'm with ya vvvv

athenalily · 4 years ago

i'm veg. it's gross!!!

lilpenguin · 4 years ago

JUST GO VEGAN!!!

mcgeorge1 · 4 years ago

I would not eat an insect even if I had been told that it would be saving the planet . I mean they are insects.

animatedwa · 4 years ago

Well i have never tried them but they sound nice :) :(

pizza80 · 4 years ago

Some people toast tarantulas

pizza80 · 4 years ago

And then eat them

pizza80 · 4 years ago

They are apparently quite nice

purplebook · 4 years ago

Only to help the planet but I have a very weak stomach which causes me to vomit 🤮

news54321 · 4 years ago

If it helps to save the planet, I would eat insects. But at the moment I am a vegetarian so I don't think I'm going to eat insects just yet.

hedgehoge · 4 years ago

No because if we’re trying to save our planet surely we are saving it for the wildlife too and if you eat the wildlife they can’t enjoy it

bamboomilk · 4 years ago

Err, the insect would die if you ate them. That would not be help our planet. Plus it's like being on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Eww! Those poor insects and animals!

unicorn36 · 4 years ago

I have a phobia of insects so probably not even though I would like to help the environment

lindawalla · 4 years ago

Well only if... 👧🏽+🐛🕷🐌🐞🐜=😄🌎 .But not if... 👧🏽 +🐛🕷🐌🐞🐜=😭🌎

nevada · 4 years ago

Hell no, why do you want to be eating insects. If you do than your a weirdo

redtoad · 4 years ago

Animal=yum

acworthw · 4 years ago

mealworms taste like monkeynut skin and ants are kinda nice, but crickets and grasshoppers make you gag so much

adalard · 4 years ago

Not all bugs are THAT bad... I think..

katkid10 · 4 years ago

I have eaten Grasshoppers before, covered in BBQ sauce. It was nice... But my Mum hated it!

katkid10 · 4 years ago

Ladybirds are not edible lindawalla. They are poisonous!!!!!

badgehuff · 3 years ago

Yes but only certain ones

fox64 · 3 years ago

I would probably, however I am vegetarian so I feel I'm 'doing my boy' by doing that. If I had to then yes. Crunchy.

stargrl · 3 years ago

I don't think I can

ez-2011 · 3 years ago

They might actually taste nice.
And if it saved the environment.

flying4car · 3 years ago

i said no because it is killing life and we wouldn't like if we got eaten would we and insects like bees have a big impact on the ego system

oceangirl · 3 years ago

I agree with vvvv- if we stop eating animals, we stop eating insects. Imagine how you would feel if some giant decided to stop eating animals, with the exception of humans!

she_ra_cat · 3 years ago

No, that’s disgusting!

djmessi · 3 years ago

If it would save the planet I would.

panda89 · 3 years ago

i would definitely! I get that it is killing live things, which is NOT GOOD, but insects do not have feelings and i don’t think they are going to be included with a normal diet (vegetarian or meat) but as an alternative to meat. If they are instead of meat than they are way better because it means you would stop killing intelligent animals like pigs 🐷.

salamander · 3 years ago

bug are yucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cricsaurus · 3 years ago

It is too gross to eat, sorry earth

aussie123 · 3 years ago

I am already vegetarian and wouldn't eat anything that was/is alive.

charlieee7 · 3 years ago

I'm vegan because I think it's cruel killing animals, whether they are cows, pigs, chickens or insects. I don't want any animals to be hurt so I think that people should just eat less meat and become vegetarian. That will help the environment more.

ivansp2011 · 3 years ago

Shaye123 I agreee with you. It will help as they swarm on food and take it away causing famine in areas such as Africa. Also, the future depends on how we eat. More people eat become obese, less people can sit on a bus which causes more carbon dioxide which cause the greenhouse effect.

ivansp2011 · 3 years ago

I do not agree with vvv. Meat has good things in it that are not in veg. Yes, maybe we kill animals :( they have essential things. Cow farts for instance pollute the Earth which is what we need to look out for. Also, there are about 1.3 billion cows in the world and all those cows pollute the Earth a bit less than a car each of them. We need as it is essential to kill them

raghavj · 3 years ago

I'd rather not eat insects as they look very unpleasant and disgusting 🦗🤢🤮. Research may say that they are healthy, including protein etc. but it just doesn't seem right to me. If they just give us the insects raw and dirty on a plate, then I would definitely not even think of touching it, but for some people, if they give them grinded and put on a dish and you can't see them, then they might eat it. Another major reason I wouldn't eat insects is: 2 billion people on Earth may be eating them already, but who knows, after some hundred years or so, when we have adapted to having them, some crisis may come up. For example, it can have a tremendous negative impact on our bodies, maybe they might pass on some deadly virus to us, even deadlier than the plague. Eating insects to save Earth may actually turn out to make our Earth a horrible place. 🌍🌋🏜

grookster · 3 years ago

It depends on the taste really, but it's the least humans can do to help fix the destruction to nature we have caused. 🌳🐛

katkid10 · 3 years ago

Some insects taste nice though! My Dad went out looking for a type of insect and it was covered in BBQ sauce. I loved it, we haven't had any since though. I think I know why. 🤣

katkid10 · 3 years ago

Also, I like She-ra. 😄

katkid10 · 3 years ago

brh_21, I agree!

puzzlepeas · 3 years ago

I guess after a while you would get used to it, so yes.

aann · 3 years ago

ummm maybe JUST because to save Earth tho it sounds RLLY gross ^0^

#thereisnoplanetb

candyflos · 3 years ago

I would only do it to help the planet but if it meant saving the environment I would choose bugs in a heartbeat.

candyflos · 3 years ago

Also, you won’t know until you try and you might end up loving it.

koksmaster · 3 years ago

I kinda feel sorry for the bugs.

koksmaster · 3 years ago

But once I tried some salt and vinegar crickets and they tasted great

nim-pom · 3 years ago

I might have eaten some, but I'm vegetarian. I also believe it is wrong to kill and harm animals; insects deserve to live too!

opalbarnet · 3 years ago

we got some crickets with different flavours a while ago and me, my mum, and my brother loved them-but not my dad. I thought they were very nice and I would eat them even if it was not to save the planet.

elfo_donut · 3 years ago

I’m all about helping the planet and put yes on this poll. But when I think about eating insects, I’m not so keen.

latiosgod7 · 3 years ago

One word: EWWWWWWW!!!

crystallv · 3 years ago

Eww but I’d do it to save our planet

aces10 · 3 years ago

I agree with vvvv and anyone who said no.
Personally, I’d prefer to become vegetarian than have to eat insects. I find it creepy to think of eating animals, once living things. Also, why kill creatures at all?

latiosgod7 · 3 years ago

Ewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewe

notsniw · 3 years ago

Yes but only to save the universe from BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM

notsniw · 3 years ago

I do not want to eat cockroaches tho

meepemeeps · 3 years ago

Where would ima celebrity go if everybody ate bugs, lol. Also ima a vegetarian so I think that is disgusting

123emperor · 3 years ago

I would only eat them if there was ketchup on the side

123emperor · 3 years ago

And also not because they were killed but because they died of old age.

123emperor · 3 years ago

Those bugs probably had a nice life 😀

sushirat1 · 3 years ago

😲🥴🤢🤮🦟🦗

specky2020 · 3 years ago

It's disgusting!

alibali9 · 3 years ago

NO, insects are living creatures like us, what if YOU were an insect, would you like it if YOU were EATEN up by a vicious lot of hungry beasts? No, I wouldn't like it either, qnd that is how THEY feel. They're like us; they can talk, eat, move, do anything like us (maybe not play board games or sports or stuff), just we don't take notice of them, to us, they're what we are to them, a bunch of big scary stuff (or cute pets
if you like bugs). I wouldn't. WOULD YOU RATHER EAT BUGS TO SAVE YOURSELF OR DON'T EAT BUGS TO SAVE NATURE AND FARMS AND FOOD WE EAT? I choose the second option, don't eat bugs.
#SaveThePlanet
Think about Sir David Attenborough, what does he always say? Save The Planet!

news54321 · 3 years ago

Yes, definitely. Food is something that no animal, even humans, should take for granted and be fussy over. Regardless of how disgusting it may seem, if it was a life-or-death situation for our planet I would definitely eat insects.
In addition, Albert Einstein used to eat insects. This shows that they are very nutritious and good for your brain.

luigi55 · 3 years ago

I love bugs! I want them to stay alive

skgninja · 3 years ago

We need to try to go vegetarian/vegan as much as possible. #GoVegan

This comment has been edited by a moderator

skgninja · 3 years ago

#Literally last comment.

spookyboot · 3 years ago

I sound crazy but like everyone else I would!

hiyapeeps · 3 years ago

I would not bc it would not help th planet as incects are vital to the community and well to the whole world!

lindawalla · 3 years ago

They are high in protein and are surprisingly good for us. In the future many people will be eating insects daily. In fact, in many countries there are people that do already eat lots of insects, bugs and other types of creepy crawlies.

rhubarbf · 3 years ago

that would be disgusting, but if it would save are planet, why not?

dadoo · 3 years ago

I would only it bugs 🐛 in survival but I mean if the would is like about to melt like an ice cream because of global warming and the only thing that could save earth is if I ate a cricket 🦗 then I would but otherwise it would be 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

kitten28 · 3 years ago

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ! 😱🤢🤮

micrad · 3 years ago

I would like to eat insects🦗 because most people say that they taste nice👍, they are supposed to be healthy for you✅ and it would help save the planet. I asked some of my friends and most of them said yes👍.

ult1m4tex3 · 3 years ago

I would not, i would prefer to go veggie

jonibones · 3 years ago

Ew no way

pinksquid · 3 years ago

I will eat bugs. But only because it will save the world. It is too disgusting to eat for no reason. It is 1,00,000 in yuk factor🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤢🤢🤢

margot28 · 3 years ago

i said yes because i have been to a bug farm and eaten meal worms before and they are really nice!!!!!!!!! Also i want to help the planet

sarlotie2 · 3 years ago

😷😷😷

milkpuddin · 3 years ago

ONLY FOR THE PLANET THOUGH

mothstar · 3 years ago

to save the planet then yes but it depends what insects

tsait · 3 years ago

i put "no" as bugs HELP the planet thrive with its variety and also ... it doesn't look the most appetizing, right??

P.S. "Scorpions and spiders are very popular snacks (although technically they’re not insects, as they have eight legs, not six)" - scorpions and spiders may be poisonous and i'd hate to be one of the people who lives on tarantula !!
#nobugsinmydiet

tsait · 3 years ago

y.u.k but y.e.s,...

osgothorpe · 3 years ago

only if it is serious and to save the planet because I am ECO friendly!🌎

weirdcat · 3 years ago

Insects have feelings too! They don't deserve to die.

trixx · 3 years ago

There should be better ways to help the planet

blackmamba · 3 years ago

i hope they taste nice

ihorsman · 3 years ago

yes i love are world and would do any thing for it ti be safe

stkurian · 3 years ago

I actually wouldn't eat insects probably because I think they deserve a chance to live.

enyu_enbao · 3 years ago

If i click Yes it would be 50/50

toffeefa · 3 years ago

NOO

humbugs · 3 years ago

I have eaten mealworms before. They tasted like thin crunchy bread bites. It was at a party and I DON'T REGRET IT!!!!!!

humbugs · 3 years ago

Other insects.... just no.

phoebeh · 3 years ago

Hmmmm...
In my opinion that sounds pretty disgusting...

Also why do we need to eat them anyway? We could eat other foods that are also rich in proteins etc.

And why should we replace meat with insects????

Just to sum up: EW

tradcath · 3 years ago

I will not eat the bugs!

lovelymrj · 2 years ago

Yuck, that's even worse than school lunch.