8 chapters across the catalog
Cricket Protein for Dogs, Carbon Paw Print
A company called Jiminy's is marketing cricket-based protein for dogs to reduce their "carbon paw print." The advertisement claims that the 36 billion pounds of traditional animal protein consumed by US dogs is unsustainable and that insect protein is a more humane alternative.
A recent episode of The Great British Baking Show featured a contestant using cricket powder and smoked whole crickets in a "trick or treat" truffle recipe. Judges on the show praised the "peppery" flavor of the insects and discussed their potential as a sustainable future food source. The hosts debate the actual taste of crickets, with one noting that certain ants are known to be spicy.
Food Inflation, Fertilizer Crisis, Cricket Protein Bars
A TikTok farmer's warning about skyrocketing feed and fertilizer costs is highlighted, predicting significant food price increases by late 2022. In response to the crisis, an Austin-based company is promoting protein bars made from crickets, which the hosts view as part of a push toward alternative, less desirable food sources.
Food Engineering and the Rise of Insect Protein
The food processing industry is increasingly shifting toward alternative proteins, including burgers made from peas and nuggets made from gluten. Bloomberg reports that major producers like Cargill are preparing to integrate crickets, beetles, and mealworms into the food supply to reduce environmental impact. The discussion highlights the sophisticated machinery required for these "food engineering" feats and the push toward "bugfish" as a substitute for tuna.
The show concluded with a "Dogs are People 2" segment featuring Jiminy's, a company producing dog food from cricket protein. The marketing emphasizes reducing a pet's "carbon paw print" by switching from traditional beef or chicken to more sustainable insect-based proteins. The hosts awarded this segment the "Clip of the Day" for its focus on the "Great Reset" themes in the pet industry.
The show concludes with a musical montage featuring a song about drone strikes and a series of clips regarding "diversity as destiny." The hosts sign off from Austin and Silicon Valley, briefly mentioning cricket protein powder before the final credits.
Crickets as the Number One Climate-Friendly Superfood
Crickets are identified as the top superfood to watch in 2016 due to their high protein content and low environmental footprint. While the idea of eating insects is still met with resistance in the U.S., mainstream chains like Wayback Burgers have already experimented with cricket-protein milkshakes.
Insects in School Lunches and Exo Protein Marketing
A student at Caney Creek High School discovered "ginormous" bugs in school-provided broccoli, identified by administrators as aphids. This incident is linked to a broader cultural push toward entomophagy, exemplified by companies like Exo Protein marketing crickets as "the new kale." One host recounts a personal anecdote from high school journalism involving a fly found in a sealed cafeteria sandwich.
