Insects have long been part of the human diet. They are considered a healthy and sustainable source of protein. But today they are at the epicentre of a high-profile conspiracy theory.
One of the oldest images of entomophagy – eating insects – dates back to around 30,000 BC.
Even today, millions of people in Latin America, Asia and Africa regularly eat insects. In Mexico, for example, fried or boiled horses – “chapulines” – have become a traditional bar snack and are increasingly appearing on the menus of haute cuisine restaurants.
In Europe and the United States, however, such food is hardly common. Although scientists consider insects a cheap, nutritious and sustainable source of protein, it remains exotic to many.
In recent years, the situation has been complicated by conspiracy theories. Their authors say: in politics on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the Netherlands, for example, in March 2023, Thierry Bode, leader of the far-right Forum for Democracy party, came to the podium with a bag of mealworms, exclaimed “No way!” and defiantly poured them on the table.
He posted a photo of this moment on social network X with the caption: “WE WILL NOT EAT Bugs”.
In Italy, the League of Salvini party put up a billboard with the slogan “Change Europe before it changes us” with a photo of a man with a horse in his mouth next to it.
So the politicians hinted: along with traditional cuisine, “true European values” will disappear.
Photo by Serenity Strull/ BBC / Getty Images
In the US, former Fox News presenter Carlson introduced “Let them eat bugs” in his latest appearance on Tucker Carlson Originals. the world economic forum (WEF) launched the “Great reset” programme to reduce inequality and protect the environment within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But conspiracy theorists saw this as “proof” of a plot – they say the world’s rich want to use the pandemic to introduce “globalist tyranny”.
According to analyst Sarah Aniano, the slogan “I won’t eat bedbugs” first appeared on the anonymous forum 4chan back in 2019, but the real publicity came during the pandemic when it was linked to the “Great Reset”.
This added fuel to the fire and the fact that in 2021, the WEF published a paper that insects could be a greener alternative to meat and help fight food crises.
For conspiracy advocates, this has sparked a new wave of fears.
Europe and the ‘new wave of fears’. EU legislation, the presence of insects in a product must be clearly labelled.
Photo by Serenity Strull/ BBC / Getty Images
In January 2025, the European Commission approved another ingredient – yellow mealworm powder after UV treatment.
It was allowed to be added to bread, pasta or cheese, but no more than 4% and with mandatory labelling.
And even with these restrictions, criticism has created a new wave of outrage.
Florian Philippot, leader of France’s Patriots party, called the decision “ecological madness” and accused the authorities of intending to “poison Europe with maggots”.
He said that “our bread, compotes and pasta” would allegedly have “up to 4 grammes of maggots per 100 grammes of product”.
This claim proved implausible – as did Duplomas’ words about authorities getting upset by the struggle to shift shocks – pandemics or climate disasters.
Stefan Lewandowski, professor of cognitive science at the University of Bristol, adds: conspiracy theories fulfil a psychological function. They help people overcome anxiety in a world that seems chaotic and unpredictable.
The idea that ‘secret forces control everything’ creates an illusion of control: if there is a culprit, it could have been avoided.
Why it’s dangerous
“There’s a deep fear in saying ‘I won’t eat bedbugs’: if elites can control food, they control life itself,” explains analyst Sarah Aniano.
Often this phrase is accompanied by another – “I will not live in a pod.” This paints a bleak picture of a future where people are deprived of freedom and pleasure, the researcher adds.
Photo by Serenity Strull/BBC/Getty Images
At the same time, it rology requires more than fact-checking. You have to understand what fears and needs it exposes. It’s not enough to say, “Don’t believe in nonsense.” It is important to find out what makes a person cling to such a belief.
Conspiracy theories are not just ridiculous, they are dangerous,” explains Stefan Lewandowski, Professor of Cognitive Sciences at the University of Bristol. – They undermine trust in science, slow down the fight against the climate crisis and harm society.
And fighting these myths requires not only fact-checking but also empathy: “This is not something that can be solved in one dinner with relatives.”
Jessica Fanzo of the Columbia Climate Centre adds: the future of food is not a coercion, but a choice. The key is having an honest conversation without pressure.