Sainsbury’s Is First U.K. Supermarket Selling Edible Insects

They may be just bugs, but they’re rich in protein.
November 26, 2018
NACS
LONDON, U.K. – Sainsbury’s, one of the largest groups of British supermarkets, has become the first U.K. grocery to offer edible insect products, according to an article at Foodbev.com.
Last week, Sainsbury’s began stocking Eat Grub’s smoky barbecue-flavored roasted crickets, a high-protein product with a crunchy texture. The product introduction comes as interest in alternative proteins grows and amid concerns about the environmental impact of global meat production. Edible insect producers are positioning their products as a more sustainable source of protein.
“Currently, insects are eaten worldwide by around two billion people, with countries such as Thailand, Mexico and China already recognizing them as a delicious food source,” said Shami Radia, co-founder of Eat Grub. “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 and shouldn’t be overlooked as a great snack or recipe ingredient.”
“Insect snacks should no longer be seen as a gimmick or something for a dare,” said Rachel Eyre, head of future brands at Sainsbury’s. “It’s clear that consumers are increasingly keen to explore this new sustainable protein source. We’re always looking to provide customers with new and exciting products, and with the growing interest in edible insects we’re excited to be the first U.K. supermarket to make these products easily accessible for shoppers across the country.”