Fake Food Series: Wormburgers and the War on Real Food — A Manufactured Crisis?

ketogenicfasting
Feb 4
3 min read

The Surprising Push for Insect-Based Burgers

Mealworms on your plate? Don’t squirm just yet — scientists say it might be better for the planet 🌍.

According to a 2022 article from The New York Post, researchers in South Korea are exploring how cooked mealworms (beetle larvae) mixed with sugar could help fight global hunger and mimic the taste and texture of meat 🍔. This unusual idea was presented at the American Chemical Society meeting in Chicago.

The mealworms (beetle larvae) and sugar blend supposedly mimics the taste and texture of meat 🍔. — **The mealworms (beetle larvae)** and sugar blend supposedly mimics the **taste and texture of meat** 🍔.

🔬 Science Backs the Buzz

Dr. Hee Cho of Wonkwang University leads the study and claims insects are gaining interest due to:

🐄 The rising cost of animal protein
⚠️ Environmental concerns linked to livestock farming
🌡️ Alleged methane emissions from cows contributing to global warming

Cho’s team believes insects are packed with nutrients:

✅ Unsaturated fats

✅ Essential amino acids

✅ Vitamins and minerals

✅ High-quality protein

✅ Fiber

Even better? They can be seasoned and cooked to taste like just about anything — from shrimp to sweet corn 🌽. Techniques like roasting, steaming, or deep-frying can completely transform the flavor and smell.

Korean scientists say mealworms in your burger might be better for the planet.

Belgium: The Wormburger Pioneer

Belgium is already experimenting with this idea since mid 2010s. A few brave celebrity chefs and food innovators are turning to insects as the next culinary frontier 🍽️.

🛒 Under the name Insecta, “wormburgers” are being sold in major Belgian supermarkets. Some restaurants are even putting them on the menu, hoping theat they turn into a lasting food trend.

One Reddit user, Alexthegreatbelgian, shared photos of a wormburger served at his university cafeteria:

🍔 Worm patty on a roll

🥒 Zucchini slices

🍟 Potato wedges with garlic sauce

🥗 Arugula salad on the side

🧐 Skepticism and Tradition Still Hold Strong

While some regions are embracing the trend, many countries around the world continue to reject the idea of replacing traditional meat with insects.

Cultural attachment to meat, skepticism of global agendas, and hesitation toward food “innovation” have made insect cuisine a tough sell in most places.

🍔 McMystery Meat?

You've probably heard the rumor:

“McDonald’s uses earthworms in its burgers.”

This claim goes back as far as 1978, alleging that McDonald’s increased its profit margins by adding ground worm filler to their patties 🐍.

There’s even a twist on how McDonald’s claims to use “100% beef”:

The theory says they buy meat from a supplier called “100% Beef Company”, which allows them to legally label their burgers “100% beef” — even if the product contains fillers or byproducts 👀.

The company has denied these rumors for decades, but conspiracy lovers still point to McDonald’s Oak Brook, Illinois facility — conveniently located next to their corporate HQ — as the supposed filler-mixing site.

🥄 Final Bite

Whether it's an innovative solution to food scarcity or a slippery slope toward soy-and-bug-based dystopia, insect protein is being taken seriously by some in the scientific and culinary world.

But for now, unless you’re dining in Brussels or attending a chemistry conference in Chicago, it’s safe to say that your burger still comes from a cow — not a cricket 🐄😉.

🚫 Chef Janine’s Stand: No to Wormburgers, Yes to Real Food

Chef Janine stands firmly against these culinary perversions disguised as innovation or a presumed solution for so-called “world hunger.”

We believe the real crisis is not overpopulation — in fact, the global population is shrinking. Birth rates are declining, young adults are forming fewer traditional families, and fewer children are being born every year 📉.

Meanwhile, agricultural advancements — especially those that honor natural, time-tested methods — have drastically increased global food production 🌾.

While we do not endorse the use of toxic pesticides or genetically modified organisms (vGMOs), we have full confidence that responsible, sustainable, and traditional agriculture is more than capable of feeding the world 🌎 — without resorting to insect patties or Franken-foods.