Sainsbury’s trials edible insects

Sainsbury’s has become the UK’s first supermarket to trial insect-based products at its convenience stores as consumer demand for sustainable protein sources grows.

Eat Grub’s Smoky BBQ Crunch Roasted Crickets will be available at 250 UK stores, with the producer claiming the insects are full of nutrients, environmentally friendly and a “superfood of the future”.

An estimated two billion people already eat insects around the world, most commonly in Africa, Asia and South America, with Eat Grubb now hoping to spread awareness in Europe.

Co-founder, Shami Radia, said: “We’re on a mission to show the West that as well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, they are also seriously tasty.

“Securing this new listing with Sainsbury’s is a really meaningful step in continuing this journey and reaching more consumers with our message.”

Eat Grubb highlighted how insects require a fraction of the land, water and feed needed to rear traditional livestock, and also produce far less greenhouse gas emissions.

It said that a kilo of crickets would result in approximately one gram of emissions, compared with 2,850 for beef, 1,130 for pork and 300 grams for chicken.

Just one litre of water is needed to produce a kilo of insects, compared with 22,000 for beef, 3,500 for pork and 2,300 for chicken, while they also only use up 15 square metres of land, far less than the 200 needed for a kilo of beef.

In addition to its Smoky BBQ Crunch Roasted Crickets, Eat Grub also offers a selection of other insect-based products, including energy bars and cooking ingredients.

Rachel Eyre, head of future brands at Sainsbury’s, said: “Insect snacks should no longer be seen as a gimmick or something for a dare, and it’s clear that consumers are increasingly keen to explore this new sustainable protein source.

“We’re always looking to provide our customers with new and exciting products, and with the growing interest in edible insects we’re excited to be the first UK supermarket to make these products easily accessible for shoppers across the country.”

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