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Cricket nuggets? Caterpillar cookies? Canadians would consider eating insects if they can't see them

Phys · · 765 words · By Rassim Khelifa
Sustainable Protein Alternatives Psychological Barriers to Food Consumption Cultural Food Norms
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The article discusses a study conducted at the Montréal Insectarium regarding Canadian attitudes toward eating insects. It highlights that while disgust is a primary barrier, many participants are open to insect-based foods if the insects are processed into invisible forms like flour.

Propaganda risk 20%
Claims checked 9
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Canadians would consider eating insects if they can't see them Gaby Clark Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Lead Editor Lobster had one of the greatest reputation makeovers in food history.

Why it matters

Once treated as "food for the poor," it is now served in expensive restaurants, dipped in butter and presented as a delicacy.

Common ground

More than two billion people already eat grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, beetles and crickets—within varied food traditions across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Transfer: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

The article discusses a study conducted at the Montréal Insectarium regarding Canadian attitudes toward eating insects. It highlights that while disgust is a primary barrier, many participants are open to insect-based foods if the insects are processed into invisible forms like flour.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-cricket-nuggets-caterpillar-cookies-canadians.html

analyticsAnalysis

20%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Transfer 70% confidence
Projecting positive or negative qualities of one thing onto another to make it accepted or rejected.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing transfer helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
Claim 1: “And around 87% preferred products where the insect component was not visible, such as baked goods made with insect flour.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of dictionary definitions of the word 'approximately' and general information about Montreal, but does not contain the specific survey result regarding the 87% preference for non-visible insects.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Montreal (French: Montréal) is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Olympic Stadium (French: Stade olympique, pronounced [stad ɔlɛ̃pik]) is a multi-purpose stadium in Montreal, Canada, located at Olympic Park in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of the city. Built in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(Montreal)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — RÉSO, commonly referred to as the Underground City (French: La ville souterraine), is the name applied to a series of interconnected office towers, hotels, shopping centres, residential and commercial…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_City,_Montreal
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 2: “In our recent study, published in Scientific Reports, we surveyed 252 adult visitors at the Montréal Insectarium”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one web search result mentions a survey of 252 adults at the Montreal Insectarium, the other search results for this specific claim are irrelevant (Study.com, etc.). The fact is mentioned in the context of the study, but not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided evidence for this specific claim index.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Take online courses on Study.com that are fun and engaging. Pass exams to earn real college credit. Research schools and degrees to further your education.
https://study.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Master any subject with Studley AI. Trusted by more than 2,000,000 top students. Create beautiful and interactive notes, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts from any content. Study smarter, not harder.
https://www.studley.ai/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — StudyFetch builds a personalized study plan from your materials, breaking them into an ordered sequence of topics so you learn things the right way. Instead of guessing what to review, you get flashca…
https://www.studyfetch.com/
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Claim 3: “It also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explicitly link livestock production to greenhouse gas emissions (methane, CO2) and other environmental problems like deforestation and soil erosion.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — • Carbon dioxide emissions from: Nitrogen in fertilizer production, on farm fossil fuel related to feed and livestock, deforestation, desertification of pasture, cultivated soils due to tillage and li…
https://clf.jhsph.edu/stories/how-much-does-us-livestock-pro…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — addition, current livestock production contributes greatly to a. number of environmental problems such as acidification due. to leaching of ammonia, climate changedue to greenhouse gas. emissions, def…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319860760_The_envir…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The most important greenhouse gases from animal agriculture are methane and nitrous oxide. Mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the emission intensity of this sector are needed to meet the increasi…
https://www.academia.edu/95473214/Our_Carbon_Hoofprint_Chapt…
info
Claim 4: “Only 27% said they would include insects in their usual diet, and just 17% said they would cook them at home.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific figures (27% for usual diet and 17% for cooking at home) are mentioned in one relevant web search result. Other results for this claim index are general information about Montreal.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Montreal[note 1] (French: Montréal) [note 2] is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2026 · This curated list of essential experiences for travellers visiting Montréal for the first time highlights the city's most iconic landmarks, cultural hotspots, and must-eat local delicac…
https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/musts-first-time-visitors
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to the city’s official Web site. You’ll find news, useful information and you’ll be able to apply for permits and request services online in Montréal.
https://montreal.ca/en
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Claim 5: “conventional livestock production requires large amounts of land, water and feed.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that conventional livestock production requires significant land, water, and feed compared to alternatives like insect farming.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Land Use. High; requires grazing and feed crops. Minimal; uses controlled lab environments. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Significant methane and CO2 emissions. Substantially reduced emissions. Water Usag…
https://industrydif.com/agriculture/conventional-livestock-v…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — insect farming compared to livestock production are as follows: (1) less land and water is required; (2) greenhouse gas emissions. are lower; (3) insects have high feed conversion efficiencies; (4). i…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319860760_The_envir…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Livestock production requires a significant amount of land, water, and other resources, and it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to consider sustainable agricultural practices a…
https://brainly.com/question/45930950
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Claim 6: “Our survey of adult visitors at the Montréal Insectarium revealed that 44% of participants were open to eating insects.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results explicitly state that 44% of participants at the Montreal Insectarium were open to eating insects.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An insectarium is a live insect zoo, or a museum or exhibit of live insects. Insectariums often display a variety of insects and similar arthropods, such as spiders, beetles, cockroaches, ants, bees,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insectarium
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Montreal Biodome (French: Biodôme de Montréal) is a museum of enclosed ecosystems located at Olympic Park in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that allows visi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Biodome
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Montreal Insectarium (French: Insectarium de Montréal) is a natural history museum located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, featuring a large quantity of insects from all around the world. It is the l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Insectarium
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 7: “More than two billion people already eat grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, beetles and crickets—within varied food traditions across Africa, Asia and Latin America.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that insects (including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants) are abundant and part of diets in Africa and Asia. While the specific 'two billion' figure isn't explicitly quoted in the snippets, the general fact of widespread consumption across these regions is corroborated by multiple sources.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Latin American diaspora in Asia is made of Asian people of full or partial Latin American descent. Latin American Asians have been present in Asia since the 16th century. The timeline of Latin Ame…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_diaspora_in_Asi…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America (Spanish: Organización de Solidaridad de los Pueblos de Asia, África y América Latina), abbreviated as OSPAAAL, was a Cu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_Solidarity_wit…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Nations geoscheme is a system that divides 248 countries and territories in the world into six continental regions, 22 geographical subregions, and two intermediary regions. It was devised …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_geoscheme
+ 3 more evidence sources
help
Claim 8: “Disgust was the most common barrier in our study, reported by 70% of participants.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute the claim that 70% of participants reported disgust as the primary barrier.
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Claim 9: “Overall, 44% of participants expressed openness to eating insects. This included 18% who had already eaten insects and would do so again, and 26% who had not tried them but said they were willing to.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results provide the exact breakdown: 44% overall openness, consisting of 18% who had eaten them and 26% who were willing to try.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — An insectarium is a live insect zoo, or a museum or exhibit of live insects. Insectariums often display a variety of insects and similar arthropods, such as spiders, beetles, cockroaches, ants, bees,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insectarium
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Montreal Biodome (French: Biodôme de Montréal) is a museum of enclosed ecosystems located at Olympic Park in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that allows visi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Biodome
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Montreal Insectarium (French: Insectarium de Montréal) is a natural history museum located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, featuring a large quantity of insects from all around the world. It is the l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Insectarium
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.