U.S.A.
Everyone Else
Health
Science
Business
Technology
Sports
Video Games
Entertainment
Future
Humour
NEWS > BUSINESS >MCDONALDS TESTING BUGS AS BEEF REPLACEMENT
MCDONALDS TESTING BUGS AS BEEF REPLACEMENT
January 25 2011
Wageningen, The Netherlands – For decades McDonalds has been, whether people like it or not, an essential component of the diet of millions of people around the world. Partially because of the relative inexpensive nature of the food and partially 
because of the addictive qualities of sugar, salt, and fat, McDonald’s food has integrated itself into the diets of much of the world as thoroughly as breads and cereal did for our ancestors. While the health impact of those foods are most certainly well established, like other food revolutions before it, McDonalds has altered the way in which we interact with food and the way it impacts our lives.
The rise of agriculture was undoubtedly transformative on the human experience, pushing us from hunting and fathering to food generation and stable habitation, something that we now take for granted. Our interaction with those foods decided the early cities and, ultimately, civilization itself, something fast food has most certainly also done. The removal of hours of food preparation has freed people. Opening up opportunities much like what happened during the industrial revolution. It has however not come without a cost, outside the obvious health concerns. The increase in cattle production for example has increased methane production and razed rainforest land, contributing to an eroding environment. Now though it appears that McDonalds may have finally struck a balance between the two as they test new burgers made of bugs instead of costly beef.
“By 2050 there will be nine billion people on the planet which puts enormous pressure on the already stressed agricultural lands we have. There simply are limits to our ability to grow and harvest food and as the population increases, with more mouths and less land, those pressures are only going to increase,” said a spokesperson for the Dutch division of the company. “This experiment, partnered with experts from Wageningen University, is a pioneering effort to change that tide and hopefully change the way we all think about food, while still retaining the taste people have loved for generations.”
Still in the early stages, the ‘Bug Mac’ has been tested in a number of small cities throughout Europe.
“We have found that acceptance is highest amongst younger people who are often more willing to try new things. The real issue is not in the food itself, but in the mind. People are used to bugs being something to be squashed not something to be eaten but we believe can gradually change that impression,” continued the spokesperson. “There are 1200 edible insects on the planet and they are much less demanding to grow. This will result in abundant food supplies are far lower costs to the environment, something that will be essential to future survival. That aside, we feel that that this offers a great opportunity for our consumers. Insect components will further reduce the costs associated with food and provide the same level of nutrition and great taste, something I think we can all agree are good things.”
It’s not clear when the company intends on rolling bug meat worldwide.
“From a pure environmental standpoint it makes perfect sense to do something like this, but let’s not forget that it also makes a lot of sense for the company’s bottom line. Bugs are much, much cheaper to harvest than cattle and that is no doubt a significant reason they are interested in this food source,” said Scrape TV Business analyst Ken Green. “That said, bugs are very edible and they have never really take off for a variety of reasons. However if any company can make that work its McDonalds. Through some salt on a beetle and you have a Happy Meal. I can see Ronald McDonald dancing around with his giant termite and gnat friends. That above anything else will switch the world over to bug eating.”
‘Bug Mac’ is not an official name according to the company.
William Ashford, Business Correspondent
NEWS > BUSINESS >MCDONALDS TESTING BUGS AS BEEF REPLACEMENT
LINK IT! http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Business/pages-5/McDonalds-testing-bugs-as-beef-replacement-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html |
TWEET IT! http://tinyurl.com/4hbrxab |
BOOKMARK IT!  
|
|---|
Scrape Store
