Why Bug Proteins Are About To Go Mainstream

Little did I know that at the time, a quiet bug revolution was starting to brew in the Western world. Over the last few years, "insect farms" opened across America, bug-eating festivals enticed curious young eaters, and The Insect Cookbook hit shelves. The Economist sent out food trucks loaded with mealworm-covered waffles and ice cream, and experimental restaurants worldwide added tiny critters to menus. Bugs have become an ingredient in everything from chips to energy bars, and Whole30 founder Melissa Hartwig even told mindbodygreen that she fuels up with Chapul Cricket protein shakes on gym day. "I don’t eat whey, soy, or plant protein, and the Chapul stuff is low-sugar and protein dense (and yes, it tastes great—you’d never know you were eating bugs)," admitted the wellness it-girl. It all raises the buggy question: Are insects poised to become a go-to protein source?

However, insect harvesting has its downside. Overexploiting certain regions can throw off the food chain and mess with the animals and people that depend on bugs for fuel (an estimated 2 billion people around the world are already eating them, after all). In Australia2, for instance, populations of honey ants and wood grubs—two essential edible insect species for Aboriginals—are now in due to increased demand from restaurants and for ecotourism sites.

While bug ag may not replace Big Ag anytime soon, more and more insect-inspired products are popping up on the mass market. Many of them use bug flour, which has a slightly nutty flavor and a texture that is more palatable to the everyday consumer. Here are a few brands packaging sustainable bug protein into a nutritious, and—dare we say?—delicious, package.

The brainchild of three female Harvard students who experimented with bug protein in their dorm room, Chirps is a line of flavored chips made using crickets. Bitty foods, another women-led business, is a line of savory air-puffed chips inspired by Mexican chapulines that list cricket flour as No. 2 on their ingredient list.

EXO Protein combines cricket protein powder with dates and cocoa nibs for a gluten-free, dairy-free energy bar. "Most of the world has joined the bug-eating revolution—we’re here to convert the rest," its site reads. Meanwhile, food giants like PepsiCo have allegedly expressed interested in incorporating bug protein into its product line.

Curious what other out-there foods are about to have a moment? Check out Whole Foods' trend forecast for 2018, and check out the superfood mbg predicts is about to be everywhere.