DINNER PARTY INTEL...

The topics you have to be able to discuss this week

1. Trade trumps bluster

China plans to halt imports of coal, iron ore and seafood from neighbouring North Korea, following pressure from the US to apply sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. The commitment comes after a threat of “fire and fury” from US President Donald Trump against North Korea’s government. For all Trump’s rhetoric, preemptive military action is not a credible choice for the US. Getting China to pressure its neighbour to scale down its nuclear programme is a more logical step.

2. Egg on their faces

Millions of recalled eggs containing traces of insecticide have sparked a war of words between European agricultural ministers. Fifteen EU states have received contaminated egg products and millions of eggs have been withdrawn from shelves, including 10m in the Netherlands and 10.7m in Germany. Initially, Belgian food safety authorities were criticised for not acting fast enough after being made aware of the contamination. But Belgium later blamed the Dutch for responding slowly. This week the European Commission had to intervene to get the ministers to talk.

3. Acquiring new tastes

Swiss shoppers will soon be able to buy burger patties and meatballs made from beetle larvae, after food safety laws were revised.

African and Asian cultures have long sampled protein-rich edible insects, but they are uncommon in Europe. They have long been used in animal feed.

The burgers will cost about twice the price of organic beef burgers at Coop, the country’s second-largest supermarket chain, and almost five times as much as the cheapest burgers in its online store.