Man's Pest Friend

7:07pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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With their frog's legs and horse burgers the French are probably the most liberal diners in Europe. However, you only need to wander through the food markets in Bangkok or peruse the menu in a Vietnamese restaurant to realise that even this Continental fare is about as exotic as a pair of John Major's briefs.

That's because in Asia you'll find delights such as deep-fried cockroaches, K9 kebabs, camel steaks, crocodile curry and many more funky dishes - a far cry from the Cottage Pie and Lancashire Hot Pot we're used to seeing on our comparatively conservative menus.

2CR-FM listener Andy from Ringwood came up with the headline for this story after winning Thursday's Headline Game on the Paul Bunker Show

However, it's not just the Asians serving up an eyebrow-raising selection of dishes - the South Americans and Africans also have a liberal take on what classifies as good grub, and the one culinary common denominator between them all is their love of eating bugs.

"While the idea of eating insects may seem unusual or even unappetising to some, human consumption of insects is actually very common in most parts of the world," explains Alison Small, Information Officer for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

"In some areas insects are only occasionally eaten as emergency food to prevent starvation, but in most regions they are a regular part of the diet and are often considered delicacies."

And it's little wonder that the likes of deep fried grasshopper and toasted silkworms have become de rigueur on dinner plates across Asia, Africa and the Americas - as according to the experts they're extremely nutritious.

"Generally speaking you'll find that most edible insects have a higher protein to fat ratio than meat," explains Veronica Gibson, a nutritional therapist based in Southbourne.

"What's more the fat in insects is unsaturated, so it's a healthy fat."

As well as having nutritional advantages, some say that dining on bugs is a sustainable and ethical way to eat, and can even help save the planet.

"The capturing, processing, transporting and marketing of edible forest insects provide interesting income and livelihood opportunities for an undetermined number of people around the world," says Patrick Durst, the FAO's Senior Forestry Officer for Asia and the Pacific.

"Creating a wider market for food insects could provide an economic incentive for conserving insect habitats."

However, no matter how ethical, sustainable and nutritious bug eating might be, is it really going to catch on in a country that prides itself on roast beef and Yorkshire pudding?

"We've been trading since last October and it's been very popular," explains Joe Rogers, the Director of edibleunique.com, a web based company selling edible creepy crawlies.

"They are bought mostly as gifts, but there are a few customers that like particular bugs, who'll buy them each week."

However, I doubt that many Brits will be shunning their steaks for a slice of scorpion on the strength of what I had for lunch yesterday.

While I managed to get over the cultural barriers and dine on crickets, silkworms, ants and a scorpion, the verdict wasn't good.

Armed with a plate full of bugs I headed to the Winter Gardens to see how liberal Bournemouth's palates are.

Unsurprisingly most sunbathers "weren't hungry" although a group of Spanish and German students stepped into the breach to deliver the public's verdict.

"You need something to dip the crickets in," said Alan Rajnyn, a student from Germany. "They are a bit dry. I don't think they're very tasty."

However, the chocolate ants were well received and I was left with none to take home. "I would buy these because you can't really see the ants," said Ines Cornelles, a Spanish student living in Bournemouth.

"They taste good," agreed her fellow countryman David Ayala, whilst Raquel Rubio covered her face in disgust as they all declined the roasted scorpion I offered them.