What Countries Eat Bugs / What Countries Eat Insects 2024

Historically speaking, the idea of eating insects dates back thousands of years. Although the practice is least common in Europe, Canada, and the United States, the eating of insects is commonplace throughout much of the rest of the world, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia and South America.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Congo is home to a rich diversity of edible insects, chief of which are locusts, grasshoppers, crickets ants, and beetles. Scientists have long posed insects as a staple food for both domesticated animals and in the diets of humans. The stance for some populations throughout the world is that insects are either a novel and unproved food option, or it is just downright "creepy" and "weird" t eat them.

Entomophagy, the practice of eating bugs and adding them to your diet, is a well-known and established principle. Many edible insects are harvested from the wild, and little effort is put into mass production and farming techniques for this resource. Bugs have a very high protein content and the world's nutrition could be improved with sustainable farming practices for entomophagy. People in the Democratic Republic of Congo have never viewed eating bugs and insects as radical, but rather, as a normal part of life. Given their nutritional value, insects are often sought out for their ease of collection relative to feeding potential.

Nigeria

Nigeria is considered one of the poorest countries in all of Africa, and even the world. As such, it is also one of the most populous countries in Africa, where there is a huge discrepancy in wealth between the poor and rich classes. This has had a huge impact on the cuisine and practices of the Nigerian people, who combine necessity with tradition. It is not uncommon for crickets, grasshoppers, termites, and mopane worms to be eaten raw out of necessity, but they are often turned into a delectable dish.

For example, locusts are a staple throughout the world, especially in Nigeria. They are high in protein, and are often served fried in various types of oil, and dried to be eaten as a snack. Locusts are notorious for the destruction of crops, which is a huge problem for the mainly agrarian economy of Nigeria. By eating and preparing locusts, they are not only adding more protein to their diets but helping to promote an industry that defends the production capabilities of locust-sensitive crops in an already arid environment.

South Africa

South Africa has a long and rich history as one of the most culturally diverse places in Africa. The temperature does not get as extreme as in other countries on the continent, and it receives a lot of tourism from the global economy. On top of African influence, it has had Dutch and English influence throughout the centuries, especially in the colonial era. South Africa enjoys a diverse range in its cuisine, which includes, but is not limited to, bugs and insects.

Mopane worms, which are delicacies in Nigeria, are native to South Africa. They are black worms that are considered very high sources of protein and can be fried, roasted, and dried before consumption.