Most won’t try ‘bushtucker diet’

SEVEN in ten people are unwilling to adopt a ‘bushtucker trial’ diet – including insects such as mealworms – in order to save the planet.

The findings come from a study into alternative foods such as insects, meat grown in a laboratory and plant-based proteins, that are seen as better for the environment than meat and dairy.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey found 67 per cent of people said ‘nothing could make them try edible insects’, 13 per cent could be persuaded if they knew it was safe to eat, 11 per cent would if they ‘looked appetising’ and 37 per cent were willing to try insects ground up into food. ‘Bushtucker trials’ were made famous by TV show I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, in which contestants are forced to eat creepy crawlies.

The FSA said it is working to ensure people can enjoy ‘innovative food... whilst still having full confidence in their safety’.