You Eat Bugs - Is it Knowingly or Accidental?
I have to admit, when I think of people eating bugs, I think about ancient cultures and survivalists. The suburban family of five does not spring to mind. According to the Scientific American , it's estimated that individuals unknowingly ingest between one and two lbs of insects annually. Most of this is due to the less than sterile process of canning vegetables and fruit preserves. Insects are not thoroughly removed before everything is sealed up and shipped out. But, accidents happen, right? Well, you may also want to be aware of the fact that confectioners glaze and red food dye are intentionally made with insects. The Lac bug is used to make glaze, which is used for everything from candy to furniture. The cochineal beetle is our source for red food dye. It's used for everything, from red candy to red lipstick. Even Starbucks admitted to using it in their beverages at one point. You can read about that here: http://blogs.starbucks.com/blogs/customer/archive/...