Crunchy? U.S. finds live beetles hidden in Japanese snacks

The 37 creatures were likely destined for collectors of exotic insects, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, estimating they were worth around $1,500.

Although the headline misleadingly suggests that there are Japanese snacks with beetles in them, the article is really about bug smuggling.

The snacks was the beetles food for the trip.

The 37 creatures were likely destined for collectors of exotic insects, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, estimating they were worth around $1,500.

Wow, I had no idea there is a market for big bugs. Humans are strange.

Be grateful for any organic protein in American food!

Zaphod

Wow, I had no idea there is a market for big bugs.

Seriously? They're commonly kept as pets in Japan. They're on display in all the pet shops. There's a big market in beetle habitats and accessories, as well.

Also, schoolkids catch and keep cicadas during the summer. It's common to see young boys and their dads, wandering around, looking up at trees, trying to spot some screeching monsters to scoop up in their nets.

The live creepy crawlies

That's your biased prospective...

The snacks may have been Japanese but was it a Japanese who shipped them to the US?

Wasabi KitKat has absolutely nothing to do with this incident

But while locusts, grasshoppers and crickets do find their way onto the Japanese dinner table, especially in rural areas, beetles are not commonly consumed.

Tokyo’s Take-Noko cafe offers dishes like cricket curry and silkworm sashimi, reflecting a growing interest in entomophagy, the practice of consuming insects as a sustainable source of protein.

suggests that there are Japanese snacks with beetles in them

It is not the article but the snacks, not just in Japan, do contain beetles as food coloring very often (cocheneal,carmin, shellac etc).

Wow, I had no idea there is a market for big bugs.

Super common types of pets. The Japanese usually prefer a neighbour with pet roaches than with dogs that bark, bite, p. in the house, in the street, need being walked.

There are also people that eat insects (sorts of grass hoppers and silk butterflies I think), as it's just like shrimps or lobster.

What a terribly queer affair.

Just 1 highlight of cultural differences between Japan and the US.

In general, bugs inside or in food in the US imply unsanitary conditions.

Restaurants are closed if signs of bugs are seen by the inspector and why no food is allowed to be placed directly on the floor, but shelves are necessary, unless the container is deemed "bug proof".

Very few Americans choose to eat insects on purpose, though anyone who eats any grain product definitely has eaten insects since they can't be completely removed from grain products. The FDA actually has an allowed amount of insects (and much worse) in "approved" grain products. https://blog.entomologist.net/the-amount-of-insects-that-can-be-included-in-meals.html

And yet you are here every day. It's almost like you enjoy being a victim.

it’s easiest to combat liberals when you’re surrounded by them.

btfkuri

The Japanese usually prefer a neighbour with pet roaches than with dogs that bark, bite, p. in the house, in the street, need being walked.

That's utterly ridiculous. While there are some Japanese who are afraid of dogs, or don't like them for one reason or another, Japanese people in general are quite fond of dogs and would most definitely prefer having neighbors with dogs vs neighbors with roaches.

In my neighborhood, there are plenty of dog owners. And, the folks without dogs love to pet ours when we're out walking them.

You may prefer insects to dogs. But, don't project your weirdness onto the Japanese people in general.

In my my home country we exterminate these beetles, they're pests. For the love of Zeus I don't get it why the fuss over these bugs.

@garypen

Japanese people in general ...and would most definitely prefer having neighbors with dogs

So explain me why they've voted to ban dogs from living in MOST appartment buildings in Japan ?

You've heard of neighbours making a rule to ban the pet insects kept in a box at home (and in many schools) ?

Maybe ask your wife as she's obviously the one that speaks Japanese and she made sure you were allowed to have a dog in the place you live.

deport them!

The FDA actually has an allowed amount of insects (and much worse) in "approved" grain products. https://blog.entomologist.net/the-amount-of-insects-that-can-be-included-in-meals.html

Ahem, and not just grains. Bug parts end up in other food items. This is why for many decades I have modified the names of two burger chains to Bughair King and Wendys Wormburgers. Old scandals but nonetheless ................

btfkuri

@garypen

"Japanese people in general ...and would most definitely prefer having neighbors with dogs"

So explain me why they've voted to ban dogs from living in MOST appartment buildings in Japan ?

Who is "they", and what do you mean by "voted". The neighbors? Don't be ridiculous. It is the landlords of most rental apartments who set such rules due to bad owners letting their dogs cause damage. Most "mansions" (buildings where the inhabitants own their individual apartments) allow dogs and cats, albeit usually with size and/or weight limits. You are obviously not familiar with that type of housing.

Maybe ask your wife as she's obviously the one that speaks Japanese and she made sure you were allowed to have a dog in the place you live.

As we own our homes in Japan, we can do whatever we want in them, and have whatever pets we want. (currently, two dogs and a big old turtle.) We don't need anyone's permission. And, fortunately, there are many dog owners in our primary home's community, which makes it even nicer to live there.

very badly-written headline, as OssanAmerica points out