Out of curiosity, ecological conviction or taste, some people eat insects. They can be found in stores, ready to eat. But is eating garden insects dangerous? What are the health risks?
It is not a traditional dish in the West, yet the plate of insects is integrated into the diet of 2 billion humans, according to a report by the FAO (1). In truth, we all eat it without knowing itas Dutch entomologist Marcel Dicke explained: “You eat at least 500 grams of it a year. Any processed food in your diet contains insects.”he said, citing the example of tomato sauce, peanut butter or fruit juices, made from spoiled, unmarketable products, which accidentally contain a percentage of insects (2). Food colorings are made from insects. The blood red of Campari comes from the cochineal…
The interest in eating insects – voluntarily, this time – may be ecological. «It is a consumption that requires little water, little raw materialexplains Gaëlle Pantin-Sohier, professor at the University of Angers, in Land of science. Their conversion rate is very high, meaning that you need to feed them very little to obtain a large quantity of food.»
Are insects good for your health?
There are more than 2000 species of edible insects, which are commercially available. But this edibility cannot obviously be guaranteed for insects found in nature, due to health risks.
The European Union has authorized the sale of certain insects since 2021, when breeding conditions are respected. These contain a lot of protein and very good quality, but also other nutrients. To summarize, they are rich in:
- Proteins;
- Minerals: iron, calcium, zinc;
- Vitamins: B1, B2 and B3;
- Fibers;
- Omega 3 and 6.
Finally, according to scientists, there is less risk of zoonoses with insects than with animals and fish. However, care should be taken not to consume inedible insect species, and for some edible insects, not to hunt them yourself in the wild.
What are the edible insects in the garden?
There are many edible insects that can be seen in the garden. However, it is strongly advised not to eat them. The risk of allergy, microbial risk or even poisoning cannot be excluded, if the insects do not come from a company subject to strict health regulations. In addition, most of these species are gardeners’ helpers, very useful for biodiversity.
Here is a list of insects that the human body is capable of assimilating:
- Scarab;
- Mealworm;
- dragonfly ;
- Ant;
- Fly, mosquito;
- Caterpillar and butterfly;
- Cricket, grasshopper, cicada and locust;
- Wasp and bee;
- But also the cockroach, the cochineal, the bedbug, the termite…
Which insects should you absolutely not eat?
Some insects are simply not edible, regardless of their breeding conditions or preparation. They are simply unfit for human consumption. The Agence science presse points out, for example, the adult mealworm, “which produces benzoquinone [substance toxique] as a means of defense.
According to Étienne Normandin (3), an entomologist at the University of Montreal, certain insects should stay well away from your plate: “Bright, contrasting colours on an insect – like the ladybug, for example – indicate the presence of chemical compounds that can be toxic (…) The same goes for hairy insects, which should be avoided unless you know the secret of cooking them.”.
(1) Edible insects: future prospects for food and animal safetyFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
(2) Marcel Dickens, The insect cookbookColumbia University Press (2014)
(3) Radio Canada, “Should insects be tested before consumption?”
