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TonyRubbles t1_iqn75se wrote

I can only see this working in the US market if it has a name completely separated from bugs and is in the form of a powdered protein or snuck into existing foods. The minute someone finds a cricket leg in their food it's all over the news.

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Druidicgoth t1_iqnct16 wrote

We quite successfully marketed sea insects as prawns so it does work

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnlpra wrote

Haha that is true, lobster wasn't always seen as a fancy meal either. Wonder how long till we see hissing cockroaches as the delicacy they are.

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defiant_turtle1 t1_iqntqi5 wrote

I personally know 3 people who have hissing cockroaches as pets lol

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnuidg wrote

Fear Factor traumatized me and I'm sure many others with those big bastards. Do they bring them out and try to get everyone to hold them while laughing at all the reactions?

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defiant_turtle1 t1_iqnygr0 wrote

Actually no as far as I know. One person I've never been to her house, but she doesn't seem like she would. She did previously have an educational program about all the bugs and reptiles she has so maybe, but I doubt it.

Another breeds and sells them and will bring them out to show people along with other pet insects, but usually people schedule with her in advance to see them.

The third person is my mom who has been traumatized by people doing what you've described but with snakes, so she would never pressure anyone to hold them if they didn't want to. She does usually ask, though. Usually the answer is no and then they focus on the dogs (or other pets, but usually the dogs) she has instead.

I know that an overwhelmingly majority of people in my life are quite odd to say the least, so I have no idea if this matches typical behavior among hissing cockroach owners is in this area.

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defiant_turtle1 t1_iqntjiv wrote

I don't know, a bunch of kids in my class loved it when I brought in chocolate covered crickets for my 5th grade elementary school party. There were a few kids who were grossed out, but one kid ate all the unwanted ones. This was back in 2010, but I'm sure if it were marketed to kids there could be a nice profit (of course there are ethical concerns about marketing to kids, but don't need to get into that here).

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TonyRubbles t1_iqntvwg wrote

If it's marketed towards kids as healthy snacks and the taste is great I could see it creeping into households, or schools, very fast.

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Eran_Mintor t1_iqnfrzl wrote

You can go to Mexico and find crispy crickets being sold at most street vendors/bars. I've even had a salsa made from ground up ants in Oaxaca that was one of the best salsas I've had. And Americans love Mexican culture.

People are grossed out by the notion but it's a sustainable, healthy, and smart alternative to get proteins that you have a difficult time finding in plants. The human species is not meant to survive solely off a vegan diet.

I'd agree it would have to be marketed a certain way but I would be surprised if this doesn't become a thing in the next ten years or so as meat production becomes more expensive and less sustainable..

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnm4fv wrote

I've eaten spicy fried crickets and they taste just like the seasoning and are crunchy like anything fried would be.

America as a whole just needs to be sold(marketed) on the idea before it's widely accepted. Definitely won't be long once companies try to make money off of it.

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illessen t1_iqntwxf wrote

They already do, it’s just a novelty though. I’d love to see the campaign to get critters in your belly though. I’ve had some wild foods, but I tend to draw the line at most bugs.

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnu9p1 wrote

Yeah I've seen candy with bugs in them since the early 90s. Farmer mart type places usually have fried or chocolate covered in some form too.

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illessen t1_iqnulpx wrote

I was once eating chocolate coated coffee beans… one was decidedly NOT a bean and was a lady bug… I’ve stopped eating chocolate coated coffee beans.

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnv39q wrote

Ah fuck I love those too! Devastating betrayal of your palette lol

Had a friend in school eat a ladybug as a dare and he said it tasted awful, he would regularly eat crickets and ants no problem.

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eryc333 t1_iqne5x1 wrote

Bro, research what your whoppers and cans corn are coated with before Halloween

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TonyRubbles t1_iqnljn1 wrote

I don't care one way or another. Most Americans will not be on board at first is all. Yes everyone eats all kinds of stuff where they have no idea what ingredients actually are.

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