Dear parents, this item is completely real and is not part of an audition series for the next season of "The Big Parent Test". Not even for the next season of "Survivor" - despite the high insect content it contains.
The next time your children complain about the sandwich you made for them at school or make a face at lunch, make it clear to them that they should thank you every day for not sending them on a plane to Switzerland. It turns out that there, what the kids get for a meal at school is much less appetizing than hummus or Nutella.
locust
In a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, reporter Matthew Dalton revealed efforts by the Swiss government, which is known for the high quality of its chocolate and cheese products, and food companies to incorporate insects of various kinds as an integral part of the menu, among other things, in meals given to students in schools.
On the appetizing menu, in case you were wondering, you can find, among other things: flourworms, crickets covered in paprika and crackers made from cricket flour (yes, it turns out there is such a thing).
The attempt to incorporate insects into the diet is part of a move to reduce the amount of sugar consumed by children. Food companies are looking for ways to persuade children to replace their chocolate bars with crickets, worms and even locusts.
In 2017, Switzerland became the first country in Europe where the sale of insects in supermarkets was approved for human consumption. This is despite the fact that only about 9% of its population was in favor of the move. Despite the move, the companies have so far failed miserably to overcome the so-called "yuck effect" – the same sense of disgust or disgust that most people feel when they are forced to eat insects as part of their diet. "People, especially from Western countries, still see insects as a sign of decay or plague," the article said.
Insects instead of chocolate,
"In an attempt to influence public opinion and try to tip the scales positively on the issue, companies in Switzerland have been organizing tastings in schools for the past four years," the article explains. An employee at one of the Swiss companies behind the insect bars elaborated: "Because the students are young, they are more open to innovation. So at one point or another, institutions will include insects in their menus."
Proponents of incorporating insects into the diet argue that it is a good source of protein. In addition, insects emit a much smaller percentage of harmful greenhouse gases emitted by animals used for food, such as cows. Moreover, according to proponents of the move, it is a perfectly normal and acceptable component of the diets of more than two billion people in Asia, Africa and South America. So enjoy.
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