BugNuggets

…or why you should be eating insects

   Sep 19

Bugnuggets and burgers in Belgian supermarkets

By Bugslibar

Several supermarkets in Belgium are reported to start selling insect-based snacks in October 2014. These snacks will include insect burgers, nuggets and schnitzels. The protein will be harvested from larvae from the black fungus beetle, a very sustainable source.

Belgian food authorities were happy to add these insects to the official list of allowed and regulated food sources, back in December. The same is expected to happen soon in the Netherlands.

The bug burgers to be sold in Belgium are expected to look like ‘regular’ meat products.

Posted in Edible species, News | No Comments »

   Nov 16

BBC doing a special on eating bugs

By Bugslibar

Check it out: the classic BBC foody programme Food and Drink has just shown a special about insects being the future of edible protein. Cheap, sustainable and eco-friendly, insects really are not to be sniffed at.

Chef Stefan Gates claims — as we’ve said earlier — that most of us are eating insects already. So why not do it consciously? And on top of that: insects can be delicious as well.

Posted in Media | No Comments »

   Oct 04

Insect bread for sale in Holland

By Bugslibar

There’s at least one Dutch bakery, Bakker Hazenberg in Vlaardingen (NL), that bakes and sells insect-enriched bread. On purpose, mind you.

At least they USED to make them. Contact them to ask if they’re still at it, if you feel like nibbling on a bug bun…

Alas, the videos on the bakery’s website have been taken down. Maybe they were too shocking to be shown online. Or maybe not. Anyway: this is an avant-garde bakery if ever there was one.

P.S.: they do high-quality standard stuff too — no worries.

Posted in General Info | No Comments »

   Jun 02

Bug wallpapers

By Bugslibar

Some of you might well be true bug addicts. This is why we have constructed a couple of images (based on images available on the web) that you could use as a computer desktop wallpaper, or even as a website background pic. These are small, but tile-able, images, so make sure that you set your background image options to “Tile”.

Ladybugs (toned down) Bedbugs

Please note that the bugs depicted here are not necessarily edible.

P.S.: if you have a particularly juicy pic that you would like to have converted to a background pic, then do not hesitate to contact us (e.g. by commenting here) and we’ll check if the pic can be turned into a “tile”.

P.P.S.: if anyone can find the original pictures, please let us know and we will credit them with a much-deserved link.

Posted in Media | 1 Comment »

   May 26

Everybody eats bugs…

By Bugslibar

…even vegetarians do.

Eating insects — processed or not — is quite common in the Western world. A simple example is our common food colouring coded “E120”. Basically, that’s a bright red insect ground up and used as dye. By the way, it’s a vegetarian insect, so startled veggies need not worry too much here ;-) But anyway… this only means that all kids eat bugs.

Motorcyclists eat bugs too. At least if they have a habit of riding with their visor and mouth open. You’re only a true biker if you’ve ever swallowed a big fat fly at 70 miles an hour — a bug-in-teeth experience that you won’t likely forget.

But there are other types of insects that we all eat without even tasting them. Have you ever woken up face down on your pillow, with a dry mouth, slightly open? Of course you have. Well, chances are you sucked up quite a few more than a handful of dust mites. Again, no problem. You still felt well-rested and healthy after, right? Maybe even healthier than before… Try seasoning your pillow with some salt and pepper tonight — for a more satisfying effect.

Posted in General Info | 1 Comment »

   May 22

Which insects are edible? (part 1)

By Bugslibar

Of course, you could watch the Bush Tucker Man or Bear Grylls on the Discovery Channel and make a note every time they gobble up an insect – be it a grub or a spider or a handful of ants. But there are in fact lists of edible insects published online. Yeay!

Here’s one for starters, from a rather credible source: Gene DeFoliart, now retired member of the entomology faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Personally, I’d like my edible butterflies a bit more colourful, so they’d really stand out in a salad or as a garnish on any plate of nouvelle-cuisine-with-a-twist. But there you have it, at least those bland butterflies are edible and nourishable. Get your butterfly nets out — happy hunting!

Posted in Edible species | 4 Comments »

   May 19

Sligro is planning to sell bug snacks

By Bugslibar

According to a spokesperson, Sligro is planning to start selling insect-based snacks shortly. Sligro is a Dutch wholesale snacks company – and as such a major player in the Western European market. However, Albert Heijn, another major player (i.e. in the consumer market) is hesitant.

But not to worry: pretty soon, supermarket shelves all around Europe will be absolutely loaded with bug snacks, including the famous and much loved Bugnugget….

Posted in News | No Comments »

   May 19

Marcel Dicke talks about eating insects

By Bugslibar

From a country where pigs outnumber humans, here’s Professor Marcel Dicke convincing people they should switch from pork to polypod and save the earth in the process.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j47FqKAK6s

Please note that the funny accent is not the result of his munching on a mouthful of bugs, but rather of his being a Dutchman.

Posted in Media | No Comments »

   May 19

Eating bugs?

By Bugslibar

BugNuggets.Com aims to explain why people should be eating more insects. Bugs, if you will…

Yikes! Eat Bugs!?


“Bugs?” you say… Yes. Insects are high in nutrients, can be raised and harvested in an energy-efficient and sustainable way, and can be yummy too.

Apart from the famous Bugnuggets, other insect-based snacks will be mentioned and reviewed here. Also, stay tuned for do-it-yourself bug snack recipes.
Enjoy!

Posted in General Info | 1 Comment »