FrenchRestaurantServesUpFoodoftheFuture:Insects
AFrenchcookispreparingfoodswithsomethingsurprising:insects.TheEuropeanUnionhasrecentlyapprovedsomesortsofinsectsasanacceptablefoodproduct.Insectsprovidemanynutrientsandareanenvironmentallyfriendlyfood.
ThefoodLaurentVeyetpreparesisnotforthosewithlittlebravery.However,whatheispreparingmaypointtothefutureoffeedingagrowingworldpopulation.
Oneofhisfoodsisaprawnsaladwithyellowmealworms.Itincludesinsectsonabedofvegetableswithgrasshopperscoveredinchocolate,afoodusuallymeantforsweets.
TheEuropeanFoodSafetyAgency,EFSA,inJanuarysaidthemealwormisacceptableforhumanstoeat.ByMay,EFSAapproveditssaleonthemarket.
Theagencyisconsideringmorethan12otherrequeststoapproveotherinsect-basedfoodproducts.Theyincludecricketsandlocusts,insectsthatareusuallyfoundinfields.
Mealworms,andinsectsmoregenerally,couldprovideasustainablefoodsourcethatproduceslowgreenhousegasesforthefuture.
SoheilAyariwaseatingwithhistwodaughters.Heapprovedofthefood.Hesaid,"IfeellikeIaminatraditionalrestaurant."Hesaidonlytheideabehindwhatheatewasdifferent.Hecontinuedtosay,"andhonestly,thetastesareverysimilar(totraditionalfood)."
Veyetgrowshismealwormsonsite.Hefeedsthemcookedgrainsandvegetables.Whilethemealwormmaynotlooklikesomethingwortheating,itisinfactthelarvaeofthedarklingbeetle.Thesebeetlesarerichinprotein,fatandothernutrients.
Themealwormcanbeusedinmanydifferentmeals.Itcanbecookedwholeandeaten,oritcanbegroundtohelpmakefoodslikebread.
StefanDeKeersmaeckerisahealthandfoodsafetyspokesmanattheEuropeanCommission.Hesaid,"insectsarenutritious."Healsosaidthatinsectscanhelpuschangetoamorehealthyandsustainabledietandfoodsystem.
TherearetwobattlesVeyetmustwin.Heneedstowinoverpublicopinionandlearnhowtocombinethetasteofinsectswithotherfoods.
Hesaidthathemustfindtherighttasteaswellastherightfoodcombinations.Hesaidthatisveryinterestingtodoandanycookwouldtellyouthesame.