Stephen Dubner

So what we find repugnant in one era may be standard in another. This concept holds not just for what we eat, but what we believe, how we behave. Slavery, for instance, was for centuries treated like a standard business practice. On the other hand, consider life insurance.

So what we find repugnant in one era may be standard in another. This concept holds not just for what we eat, but what we believe, how we behave. Slavery, for instance, was for centuries treated like a standard business practice. On the other hand, consider life insurance.

Until the middle of the 19th century, it was considered, as the sociologist Viviana Zelizer once wrote, a profanation which transformed the sacred event of death into a vulgar commodity. If we are capable of making such big shifts in matters like these, can it really be so hard to make insects appealing?

Until the middle of the 19th century, it was considered, as the sociologist Viviana Zelizer once wrote, a profanation which transformed the sacred event of death into a vulgar commodity. If we are capable of making such big shifts in matters like these, can it really be so hard to make insects appealing?

Until the middle of the 19th century, it was considered, as the sociologist Viviana Zelizer once wrote, a profanation which transformed the sacred event of death into a vulgar commodity. If we are capable of making such big shifts in matters like these, can it really be so hard to make insects appealing?

In 2021, the European Union's Food Safety Authority ruled that mealworms are safe for human consumption. Two years later, the EU approved the sale of insect proteins in powdered and dried forms for human consumption. But what about human demand? Here again is Sandro Ambul.

In 2021, the European Union's Food Safety Authority ruled that mealworms are safe for human consumption. Two years later, the EU approved the sale of insect proteins in powdered and dried forms for human consumption. But what about human demand? Here again is Sandro Ambul.

In 2021, the European Union's Food Safety Authority ruled that mealworms are safe for human consumption. Two years later, the EU approved the sale of insect proteins in powdered and dried forms for human consumption. But what about human demand? Here again is Sandro Ambul.

They'd think it was pretty good. I met up with Paul Rosin, the Penn psychologist, scholar of disgust, insect advocate at The Black Ant, a modern Mexican restaurant in Manhattan's East Village. Are you hungry? I can eat. The chef is Ileana Cermeno.

They'd think it was pretty good. I met up with Paul Rosin, the Penn psychologist, scholar of disgust, insect advocate at The Black Ant, a modern Mexican restaurant in Manhattan's East Village. Are you hungry? I can eat. The chef is Ileana Cermeno.

They'd think it was pretty good. I met up with Paul Rosin, the Penn psychologist, scholar of disgust, insect advocate at The Black Ant, a modern Mexican restaurant in Manhattan's East Village. Are you hungry? I can eat. The chef is Ileana Cermeno.

Can I prepare you one, Paul? Sure. I'm going to give you a little bit bigger dose of ant than I... How many ants are you giving me? That looks to be about 100 ants. Wouldn't you say, maybe? They're pretty small. Yeah.

Can I prepare you one, Paul? Sure. I'm going to give you a little bit bigger dose of ant than I... How many ants are you giving me? That looks to be about 100 ants. Wouldn't you say, maybe? They're pretty small. Yeah.

Can I prepare you one, Paul? Sure. I'm going to give you a little bit bigger dose of ant than I... How many ants are you giving me? That looks to be about 100 ants. Wouldn't you say, maybe? They're pretty small. Yeah.

I can't keep my hands off the grasshoppers. They're addictive. They're like cocktail peanuts.

I can't keep my hands off the grasshoppers. They're addictive. They're like cocktail peanuts.

I can't keep my hands off the grasshoppers. They're addictive. They're like cocktail peanuts.

So do you personally feel it's your mission to make insect eating more acceptable, or you just happen to land here?

So do you personally feel it's your mission to make insect eating more acceptable, or you just happen to land here?

So do you personally feel it's your mission to make insect eating more acceptable, or you just happen to land here?