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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsNot as a general rule. FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, says the idea that people eat insects because they are hungry is a mistaken Western perception, and that in most countries eating insects is a matter of choice rather than survival. That does not make poverty irrelevant. In some households, communities and seasons, insects provide food, income and a buffer against shortages. The accurate answer depends on which place, which species and which season you are describing.
Where insects are eaten, and by whom
Insect eating, or entomophagy, is practiced in many countries, predominantly in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is not confined to one income group. FAO’s overview page reports that approximately 2 billion people have diets supplemented by insects and that more than 1,900 edible insect species are recognised. The overview page does not state a publication date, and these are FAO’s own figures rather than an independently verified current census, so treat them as broad indicators rather than precise counts.
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What FAO says about hunger and choice
FAO’s “Insects for Food” topic page addresses the stereotype directly, stating: “The idea that people resort to eating insects because of hunger is an erroneous western perception as insects are often considered a delicacy in their country of origin.”
FAO’s 2013 book Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security (FAO Forestry Paper 171) reaches a similar conclusion: “In fact, the vast majority of insect consumption is by choice, not necessity, and insects are a part of local culture.” The qualifier matters. The book’s claim is that consumption is a choice in most countries. It does not say that nobody eats insects out of necessity.
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Where shortages and poverty do matter
The same FAO material that rejects the blanket label also documents real economic roles for insects. Three distinct patterns appear in the sources.
Seasonal buffers
FAO’s 2013 book recognises that insects can help cover food shortages in certain seasons. FAO’s 2022 feature “‘Worm’ up to the idea of edible insects” gives an example from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Ngandu people eat caterpillars seasonally. The feature frames insects as one food among several in the local calendar rather than as a permanent substitute for staple foods.
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Wild collection and local knowledge
FAO’s 2014 publication Edible insects in Lao PDR: building on tradition to enhance food security describes insects that are largely gathered from the wild, with local knowledge about where, when and how to collect them. Wild harvesting ties food access to seasons, habitats and the skills of the people doing the collecting.
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Insects can also generate income when they are sold. The same Lao PDR case material discusses marketing alongside food security, which means the household that eats insects and the household that sells them may not be the same people or the same economic situation. Sale and home consumption should be assessed separately.
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- INCLUDES 3 SINGLE-SERVE PACKS – Each order contains a 3-pack of dried cricket snacks with 1 pouch of each flavor. The packs are individually sealed to preserve freshness and are compact enough for gifting, parties, or personal tasting. With a balanced mix of variety and portability, this sampler makes it easy to share with friends or include as a novelty in gift baskets or themed events.
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Why “poor people’s food” misleads
The phrase merges at least three different things: insects as ordinary everyday food, insects as a prized delicacy, and insects as a seasonal fallback when other food runs short. A single community can use an insect in more than one of these ways. Income status alone does not determine which applies. The table below sets out the questions that actually distinguish cases.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | What the FAO sources establish |
|---|---|---|
| Is the insect an everyday food, a delicacy, or a seasonal fallback? | The same species can carry different social and nutritional roles. | FAO describes insects as often a delicacy in their country of origin, and as a seasonal buffer in some places. |
| Is it eaten at home, sold, or both? | Home consumption supplies food directly; sale adds income. | FAO describes income roles. No global split between household use and sale is stated. |
| Is it collected from the wild or farmed? | Wild supply follows seasons and habitats; farming changes supply and control. | The Lao PDR case centres on wild collection. A global wild-versus-farmed comparison is not stated. |
| Which species, and in which season? | Availability and safety differ by species and time of year. | FAO’s overview reports more than 1,900 edible species. Seasonal use is documented in the DRC example. |
| How is it handled, processed and regulated? | Hygiene and identification determine whether the food is safe. | FAO flags harvesting, handling, processing and regulation as safety concerns across the value chain. |
Traditional eating does not remove safety risks
A long tradition of eating insects is not a safety guarantee. FAO’s material identifies several points where risk enters the chain:
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- INCLUDES 6 SINGLE-SERVE PACKS – Each order contains a 6-pack of dried cricket snacks with two pouches of each flavor. The packs are individually sealed to preserve freshness and are compact enough for gifting, parties, or personal tasting. With a balanced mix of variety and portability, this sampler makes it easy to share with friends or include as a novelty in gift baskets or themed events.
- REAL ROASTED CRICKETS, SIMPLY PREPARED – These snacks are made with whole farm-raised crickets that are dried and roasted to deliver a natural crunch. Each insect is then seasoned with popular flavor blends to create a unique but familiar snack experience. There are no artificial fillers or substitutions—just real ingredients in a novelty format that’s both eye-catching and snackable.
- READY TO TRY, NO PREP NEEDED – Each cricket snack pack is ready to enjoy straight out of the pouch—no cooking or refrigeration required. Great for food tastings, snack challenges, or fun group activities, they can be shared at parties or added to themed gift sets. These snacks are shelf-stable and lightweight, making them a convenient way to enjoy something new and fun.
- ABOUT HOTLIX – With years of experience creating novelty and exotic snack products, HotLix follows strict safety standards to ensure product consistency. Every bug is carefully handled and prepared to meet food-grade quality levels. Customers can trust they’re getting a well-sourced, novelty snack that’s clean, safe, and thoughtfully packaged.
- Species identification, since not every insect is edible and some look similar to harmful ones.
- Harvesting conditions, including the environment the insects were collected from.
- Handling and hygiene after collection.
- Processing methods and preparation before eating.
- Local rules and regulation, which vary by place.
Readers should not treat this article as guidance to eat unidentified wild insects. Food safety depends on the specific species, source and preparation, and jurisdiction-specific guidance should be consulted where it exists.
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What the evidence cannot tell us
No current global statistic comparing insect consumption across income groups appears in FAO’s material. The most detailed FAO sources date from 2013 and 2014, the 2022 feature is a journalistic piece rather than a survey, and the overview pages are undated. Anyone citing an income breakdown for insect eating should be able to name a study that measured it.
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One figure is often confused with insect consumption. FAO’s 2013 book cites 350 million of the world’s poorest people, including 60 million Indigenous people, who depended on forests and trees for daily subsistence and long-term survival, based on FAO 2012a. That figure measures forest dependence. It is not a count of people who eat insects, and it should not be used to imply one.
The fair conclusion is that insects are a long-standing food in many communities, eaten mostly by choice in most countries, and in some places a meaningful part of food security and local income. The label “poor people’s food” captures a real pattern in some settings and misdescribes the majority of cases.
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