Hello. This is 6 Minute English
from BBC Learning English.
I'm Neil. And I'm Sam.
Do you like trying new food? I do indeed - I love eating
foods from around the world
and I especially like
trying out restaurants that
serve news kinds of food. Me too, and I like food
that is a mix of
different styles - sometimes
called fusion food. But
could I tempt you to
some insect tapas or
a tarantula doughnut? Maybe not - the idea of
eating food made from
bugs and creepy crawlies
doesn't appeal. Well, maybe I can
convince you in this
programme because that's
what we're discussing - and
teaching you some
vocabulary along the way.
But first, I must
serve you a question
to answer. It's about
food - but not made form
bugs. Do you know what
type of food is sometimes
known as 'priest chokers'?
Is it: a) cheese?,
b) pasta? or c) potato? I think I know this
one, Neil. It's pasta,
isn't it? Well, I will give you
the answer at the end of
the programme. But,
let's get back to food
made from bugs - which is
a growing trend in the
Western world. Insects
are an alternative source
of food and experts say
they're filled with
lots of good nutrients,
including amino acids
and protein. And eating
them could help to
fight world hunger
and reduce pollution. I'm not convinced yet,
but I do know that the
word for eating insects
is 'entomophagy' and it's
something BBC World Service
programme, The Food
Chain, discussed. The programme spoke to experts
who think cooking with bugs
is a great idea. One of
them was Andy Holcroft,
founding director of Grub
Kitchen and Bug Farm Foods.
He explained the challenge
of getting some people
to eat bugs. In the Western culture, we
have got a bit of an uphill -
I would say - struggle because
pre-conceptions around eating
insects are already sort
of ingrained in society,
so we already think
before we've even tried them,
they're going to taste
disgusting or gross. So,
to actually get someone
to put it in your mouth -
the easiest way we find
straightaway is to try maybe,
a cricket cookie or a
chocolate chip cricket cookie
where you have... we are
using cricket powder so
you don't actually see
any insects whatsoever -
you're getting the idea
of eating them so people
can deal with that a
bit more than actually
seeing the whole insect. Interestingly, it seems
to be western cultures that
don't like eating insects -
perhaps because it's
thought to be wrong or
just disgusting, even if
it's not! As Andy says,
people have pre-conceived
ideas about it. To change
these ideas is an uphill
struggle or needs a lot
of effort to achieve. Yes, the negative
attitude to eating bugs
is ingrained into society,
meaning it is a long-lasting
attitude that is difficult
to change. But Andy and
other chefs are trying
to change that attitude
by subtly introducing
insects into food, such
as his chocolate chip
cricket cookies. This is just for starters!
Other interesting and
exotic dishes, where you
do see the bugs you're
eating, are now
being served. I'm still not convinced
but maybe chef Joseph Yoon
can change my mind? He is
a chef and an 'edible
insect ambassador'. He's
also trying to persuade
the squeamish - people
easily upset by something
unpleasant - to overcome
their fears of crickets,
worms, and spiders, and
instead see them as a tasty,
alternative source of protein. Here he is, speaking on
the BBC's Food Chain
programme talking about
changing people's attitudes. We approach our work with
openness, with understanding
and inclusivity. When people
approach me and they go
like 'urghh' or they react
very viscerally, I don't
get confrontational, I go
like, I understand that
you can feel that way and
what we need to do is
start changing these
perceptions from insects
as being a pest, that
bites you or that carries
disease, to edible insects,
something that's sustainably
farmed and harvested
specifically for
human consumption. So, Joseph is passionate about
edible insects but is
understanding of people who
don't like the idea and maybe
show this viscerally - having
an emotional reaction rather
than one based on
fact or reason. But Joseph wants to change
these negative emotions by
explaining the insects are farmed
purely for humans to eat,
and they are farmed
sustainably - in a way that
can last for a long time
and is good for
the environment. I suppose we kill animals
such as cows and sheep to
eat so why not insects or
spiders? The debate about
this continues but there's
no debate about the answer
to today's question, Sam.
Earlier, I asked you if you
knew what type of food is
sometimes known as 'priest choker'?
And I was sure if was pasta. It is pasta. Strozzapreti,
which means 'priest chokers'
in Italian, is an elongated
form of cavatelli pasta. Its
name is thought to come from
the greedy priests who were
so enthralled by the pasta
that they ate too quickly and
choked themselves. No bugs
were involved, though. That's good to know because
we have been talking
about entomophagy, a
word for the practice of
eating insects. Other vocabulary we mentioned
included fusion, which means
a mix of different styles.
And the expression an uphill
struggle means needs a lot
of effort to achieve. Something that is ingrained
is a long-lasting attitude
that is difficult to change. Viscerally describes having
an emotional reaction rather
than one based
on fact or reason. And, doing something
sustainably is doing it
in a way that can last for
a long time and is good
for the environment. Well, that's all for this
6 Minute English. If you've
enjoyed it, join us again
soon for more real-life
stories and topical vocabulary
here at 6 Minute English.
Goodbye for now! Bye!