Insect based food to be introduced at stores in Switzerland soon

Trying out new culinary delights is a passion for a lot of people all over the globe and enthusiasts also come up with new recipes to push the boundaries of experimental cooking. But while everyone seeks to create a unique platter, some people tend to take things to an extreme level.

A supermarket chain in Switzerland seems to be introducing a new trend for food lovers as it is bringing food made from insects to stores after revisions in the country’s food safety laws. While eating insects has been a practice in different parts of the world, the supermarket giant Coop is bringing burgers and insect balls made from mealworm which are known to be protein rich.

The new norms make Switzerland the first European country to authorise sale of insect based products for human consumption. It now allows crickets and grasshoppers to be used in food other than mealworms which are mealworm beetles in larval form which was previously used in animal feed.

The worms will be bred under strict supervision to make them safe for human consumption and the firm has submitted to inspections by authorities.

Insects are consumed by two billion people as a part of their diet and around 1900 species of insects are considered to be edible. Insects are already popular in China, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and other parts of the world.