
More and more Americans are taking a liking to Thailand’s edible insects, according to Thailand Department of International Trade Promotion. The department’s director-general, Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, told TNA that the department found from its survey on Thai export opportunities that insect consumption was growing steadily and significantly in the US.
Phusit has suggested that insect products should be marketed through restaurants, since they used the insects as ingredients. He said Mexican Americans should particularly be targeted for marketing, since they enjoy using insect products in their ingredients. Phusit added that the products should also be marketed through e-commerce channels like Amazon, eBay to reach consumers directly.
“For the US market, edible Thai insect products should be developed and diversified. There should be ready-to-eat products, snacks and protein bars.”
Thailand’s edible insects include several critters that make many Westerners’ skins crawl upon the thought of eating them. They include silk worm, crickets, and red ants, just to name a few. Many of the bugs are said to be healthy and high in protein. Such products can often be found at market street vendors. Spots that sell edible insects include Phuket’s Bangla Road and Bangkok’s Khao San Road.
A number of countries sell insects as a food product. Last year, Japan introduced vending machines that sell snacks with insect extract and edible insects. The machines have 12 types of insects including bamboo caterpillars, crickets, and water beetles.
SOURCE: TNA | Hotels.com
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.
Recent comments: