To meet the growing needs of food for the increasing population, country should make use of edible insects as foods. However, some people believe that insects are not only unhealthy but affect negatively the nature too. What are the benefits and drawbacks of eating insects? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

It is often considered that the solution to satisfy an increasing global population is to treat
insects
as a
food
source
. I disagree with
this
opinion and think consuming
insects
may pose potential health risks and indirectly exhaust another edible
food
source
.
First
of all, I believe that consuming
insects
can increase the chances of developing the disease. Insect shells carry bacteria and viruses,
thus
ingesting
insects
can lead to health problems.
For instance
, my uncle was served with water cockroaches because it is a delicacy from Thailand. He suffered fever and intense diarrhoea for a week. That's why I believe
insects
cannot be an edible
food
source
.
Secondly
, increasing the consumption of
insects
decreases other available
food
sources for humans.
In other words
, many crops like plant-based foods heavily depend on
insects
’ habitats.
For instance
, bees are known for pollinating plants and flowers by carrying pollen around their bodies. Without bees in our ecosystem, plants can no longer reproduce and would reduce the production of plant-based foods.
Thus
adding
insects
as a
food
source
will affect the reproduction of plant-based foods available to humans.
However
,
insects
are made of protein and are nutritious for our bodies to consume. Many countries that do not have access to meat only
insects
for nutrition.
For example
, there are very few animals living in deserts like Tibet, and there is a wild abundance of grasshoppers. Many Tibetans would deep fry grasshopper and serve it as a main dish. In conclusion, the disadvantages of consuming edible
insects
as a
food
source
outweigh the benefits over nonconsumption because insect causes diseases and hinder the reproduction of another
food
source
.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • edible insects
  • increasing population
  • food needs
  • unhealthy
  • negatively affect
  • benefits
  • drawbacks
  • nutritional value
  • sustainable
  • efficient
  • abundant
  • accessible
  • economic benefits
  • culinary diversity
  • social acceptance
  • cultural acceptance
  • allergies
  • health concerns
  • environmental impact
  • ethical considerations
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