Bugs as Food: Are Edible Insects the Food of the Future?

What is entomophagy and do people really eat bugs as food?

People have eaten bugs as food for thousands of years across almost every continent. For many cultures, insects are not a novelty—they are a reliable staple, a cheap protein source, or even a sought-after delicacy. In contrast, most Western societies view insect eating as unusual or unappealing.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2023 report confirms nearly 2 billion people practice entomophagy regularly. Communities eat 1,400+ recorded edible insect species across 3,000 distinct ethnic groups. For example, open-air markets in Thailand sell fried crickets and silkworm pupae as common street snacks.

For a full home inspection to rule out pest-related food contamination, Contact Sydney’s Best Pest Control.

What are the most commonly eaten insects around the world?

People eat every major insect order, from soft larvae to hard-shelled beetles. Preparation varies widely by region: roasting, frying, boiling, drying into flour, or mixing into sauces and snacks. Most species offer a mild, nutty or meaty flavour that adapts well to local recipes.

Top edible insect groups eaten globally

• Beetles (weevils, longhorn beetles, dung beetles)
• Caterpillars (including witchetty grubs, a traditional First Nations Australian food)
• Bees, wasps and ants (roasted leafcutter ants replace popcorn in parts of South America)
• Grasshoppers, crickets and locusts
• Termites and cicadas
• Cockroaches, dragonflies and insect larvae (mealworms, waxworms)

First Nations Australians have eaten witchetty grubs for more than 60,000 years. The grubs are high in protein and healthy fats, and people eat them raw or lightly roasted over coals. Meanwhile, cricket flour is now a commercially available ingredient in some Australian health food stores and protein bars.

How nutritious are insects compared to regular meat?

Most edible insects deliver high protein, good levels of iron and zinc, and less saturated fat than common red meats. They also use far fewer resources to farm. For example, the FAO 2022 data shows crickets need 12 times less feed and 100 times less water than cattle to produce the same amount of edible protein.

Nutrition comparison: insects vs skinless chicken breast (per 100g raw)

To put this in perspective, crickets contain 84 times more iron per 100g than chicken breast. Iron deficiency affects roughly 1 in 8 Australian women of reproductive age, per AIHW 2024 data. Insects could one day help address this gap, though they are not yet a mainstream food locally.

How many insect parts do we accidentally eat in everyday food?

Every person on Earth eats insect material without knowing it. It is simply impossible to farm, harvest and process large volumes of grain, fruit or cocoa without some tiny insects or fragments entering the supply chain. These are not signs of poor hygiene—they are natural, unavoidable contaminants.

US FDA Food Defect Levels Handbook 2024 publishes maximum safe thresholds for common foods. Manufacturers only face action if contamination exceeds these levels. Typical allowable limits include:

• Chocolate and chocolate liquor: 80 insect fragments per 100g
• Peanut butter: 60 insect fragments per 100g
• Wheat flour: 150 insect fragments per 100g
• Ground pepper: 950 insect fragments per 100g
• Ground cinnamon: 800 insect fragments per 100g
• Macaroni and noodles: 100 insect fragments per 100g
• Canned corn: 2 insect larvae per 100g
• Mushrooms: 20 maggots per 100g drained weight

In fact, scientists calculate the average person unknowingly eats about 500g of insect material every year. For Australians, CSIRO 2024 research puts the figure at 450–550g per year. Most of this comes from insect fragments in flour, cereal, spices and chocolate.

Some people with suspected chocolate allergy actually react to cockroach proteins in cocoa. Cockroaches live naturally in cocoa-growing regions, and fragments enter processing lines. Testing shows a typical chocolate bar can contain around 8 cockroach fragments and still meet all safety rules.

What do Australian food safety standards say about insects in food?

Australia does not copy FDA numbers directly, but the principle is identical. Low levels of natural, unavoidable contaminants are legal and considered safe. Only excess contamination, or insects from avoidable sources like poor storage, triggers regulatory action.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Standard 1.4.1 2025 sets out acceptable levels for foreign matter in food sold locally. The NSW Food Authority enforces these rules across all Sydney food businesses, from cafes to large processing plants.

Most importantly, a clear line separates two very different scenarios:

1. 1. Industrial unavoidable contamination – tiny fragments from farms and processing, within FSANZ limits: safe and legal.
   2. Home or business infestation – live insects, webbing, droppings or large numbers of fragments caused by pests breeding on site: unsafe and a clear health hazard.

As a result, finding 2 or 3 tiny weevils in a newly opened 1kg bag of rice is usually within acceptable limits. Finding dozens of live weevils, larvae or silky webbing in your pantry 3 months after purchase means you have a local breeding infestation that requires action.

When should insect contamination in Sydney homes become a pest problem?

Sydney’s warm, humid climate is perfect for stored product pests. Weevils, grain beetles, Indian meal moths and cigarette beetles breed rapidly in kitchen cupboards, pantries and pet food storage. Most infestations start when you bring home a contaminated bag of flour, rice, nuts or birdseed.

As a Sydney pest technician with 12 years’ experience, I attend 2–3 pantry pest jobs every week across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and South West. Homeowners usually only notice a problem when they see adult beetles or moths crawling on benchtops. By that stage, larvae have often infested every open grain product in the cupboard.

Signs you have a pantry pest infestation, not just harmless fragments

• Live adult beetles, weevils or moths inside food packets or on shelves
• Silky webbing clumped inside flour, muesli or pet food
• Small holes chewed through paper or plastic packaging
• Fine dust or frass (insect droppings) at the bottom of bags
• Food clumping together when it should pour freely

For example, last month we treated a family home in Marrickville. They opened their pantry to find weevils in every packet. We removed 5kg of heavily infested flour, rice and cereal—2kg of which was completely ruined and thrown out, costing them roughly $25 in wasted groceries. A targeted 30-minute residual treatment stopped the breeding cycle completely.

One regular customer from Darlinghurst told us: “Have had a general treatment done for the last 2 years since moving into our new home. Couldn’t recommend it enough. Very great value for the service.”

If you spot live insects, webbing or unexplained food damage in your Sydney pantry, do not wait for the problem to grow. Call our team immediately on 1800 819 189 for same-day assessment and targeted stored product pest treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to eat insects on purpose?

Yes, when farmed specifically for human consumption and prepared correctly. Edible insect farms follow strict food safety rules similar to other livestock. Wild-caught insects may carry pesticides or pathogens, so you should never eat insects you find in your home or garden.

Can insect fragments in store-bought food make me sick?

No, within regulatory limits. FSANZ and global authorities set thresholds well below any level that causes illness. The human digestive system breaks these tiny fragments down normally with no adverse effect for almost all people.

How do I stop pantry pests in my Sydney home?

Store all grains, nuts, flour and pet food in sealed glass or hard plastic containers. Inspect new packets for damage before buying. Freeze susceptible items for 48 hours when you bring them home to kill any hidden eggs. Wipe pantry shelves monthly with warm soapy water.

Do I need a professional for weevils or grain beetles?

You can often stop a minor infestation by throwing out affected food and cleaning thoroughly. If pests return within 2 weeks, or if you see them in multiple rooms, call a professional. DIY surface sprays almost never reach hidden eggs and larvae in cracks and shelf joints.

Are insects safe to eat?

Some insects are safe to eat when they are farmed and processed specifically for human consumption. Wild insects and household pests should not be eaten because they may be contaminated with bacteria, parasites or pesticides.

Which insects are commonly eaten?

Crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, locusts and some beetle larvae are among the most commonly consumed edible insects around the world.

Why are insects considered a sustainable food source?

Many edible insect species require less land, water and feed than conventional livestock while providing a good source of protein and other nutrients, making them an area of interest for sustainable food production.

Can you eat cockroaches?

Household cockroaches should never be eaten. They may carry contaminants and disease-causing organisms and are not produced under food safety standards for human consumption.

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