LAB MEAT NOT TO YOUR TASTE? HOW ABOUT BUGS AND BEASTIES?

About two billion people around the world already eat insects regularly – from grasshoppers and red ants in Thailand, to the caterpillars and termites consumed in much of central and southern Africa. Some believe the answer to the world’s food shortage could lie with encouraging more people to eat insects for protein instead of meat. And there are benefits to this, as a recent study in the Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Science points out: ‘Cultivating insects for protein is less environmentally damaging than cattle ranching.’ But will it catch on? Team Telegraph takes a bite…

Sweet Chilli & Lime Crunchy Roasted Crickets, £13.99 for 12x12g packets, Eat Grub (eatgrub.co.uk) ‘I can make out every bit of its anatomy – I’d really rather I couldn’t. It tastes a bit like a prawn cracker.’ Marianna Hunt, property and finance reporter ‘Pretty offputting to look at. They’re not too foul-tasting, though.’ Anna Clarke, features assistant ‘If I didn’t know what they were I’d happily munch a handful of these.’ Charlie Taylor-kroll, business and technology intern

Mealworms, £6.49 for 45g, Eat Grub (as before) ‘Massively regretting the generous handful I’ve taken to eat – I keep expecting them to wriggle away from me.’ Marianna ‘They look so unappetising and far too much like a worm (not long deceased) for my liking. Their flavour is a little oaty, pass the water, please.’ Anna ‘These taste really dry. I’ve suddenly gone off lunch…’ Charlie

Mixed Critters (buffalo worms, crickets, locusts and mealworms), £6.49 for 20g, Crunchy Critters (crunchycritters.com or amazon.co.uk) ‘The cricket’s eyes are staring straight at me. Shall I start with the head or tail?’ Marianna ‘It’s a bit like a horror lucky dip bag.’ Anna ‘This lot look gruesome – like a bushtucker trial. They also taste like gone-off pork crackling.’ Charlie

Milk-chocolate-covered crickets, £5.49 for 13g, Crunchy Critters (as before) ‘I would happily swap Maltesers for these!’ Marianna ‘At least the chocolate cloaks the beast inside. Slightly more bitter than your typical milk chocolate but, saying that, I would actually probably eat one again if the cupboards were (totally) bare.’ Anna ‘They look just like chocolate raisins and are surprisingly tasty! The chocolate works hard.’ Charlie