We as humans like to eat some pretty questionable things.
Snails (or “escargot”, if you’re feeling fancy) are considered a delicacy in France. Some Asian cultures like to dine on chicken feet. And in America, everything under the sun can be deep fried and considered a meal.
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But just how far are we willing to go to fill our bellies?
Some foods we choose to combine together are questionable.
Ever tried dipping French fries into a milkshake? Or adding some ketchup to your pizza? Or smearing a bit of peanut buter (smooth or crunch, dealer’s choice) onto pickles?
There are definitely some weird food combinations out there. One Twitter user openly admitted to enjoying a little cottage cheese with their hot Cheetos, while another said they like to add marmalade to their sausages.
Some of the foods we consider “normal” to eat are actually pretty strange when you think about it.
Milk comes directly out of an animal’s body but we have no qualms pouring a tall glass to enjoy with some cookies.
Jell-O is made from animal collagen (mostly skin and bones), but it’s still considered a delightfully colorful after-dinner treat.
As the world’s population continues to grow, people are going to find it harder to find sources of protein.
An overpopulated world means a shortage of many different forms of food, and we’ll likely come to find that means of consuming protein will be hard to come by.
The Daily Mail reported that researchers out of Australia’s Queensland University are anticipating severe livestock shortages, which means people will have to turn elsewhere for their protein.
Their solution? Bugs.
Maggots and insects could be the future of meat alternatives.
University of Queensland Meat Science Professor Louwrens Hoffman told CNN that conventional livestock simply won’t be able to meet the demands of an overpopulated world. But maggots and insects will do a good job of making up the difference.
“An overpopulated world is going to struggle to find enough protein unless people are willing to open their minds, and stomachs, to a much broader notion of food,” he told Fox News
Researchers are suggesting we dine on maggot sausages and insect ice cream.
Hoffman’s team has found that while most people would refuse to eat a maggot on its own, they’re much more likely to consume insect-based meals where the protein is hidden in more familiar and foods, like sausages and ice cream.
Kangaroo meat could also prove to be good protein sources in the future.
Hoffman told Fox News that kangaroos don’t need grasslands for grazing, making them an ideal candidate for traditional meal alternatives.
Although we can’t say we’re exactly on board with eating kangaroos, either.
Most people aren’t ready to make the switch to maggots just yet.
In response to the maggot sausage prediction, people on Twitter have been fairly vocal about their reluctance to dine on insects for protein.
One user said they would sooner starve while another dismissed the idea of a food shortage altogether.
“We have plenty of food to feed the world,” they wrote. “Hunger is a logistical and geopolitical problem, not a supply problem.”
We aren’t sure how soon we can expect maggot sausages to begin popping up in grocery stores.
The Daily Mail reported that the meat industry has a detrimental effect on the environment, particularly considering the resources that go into keeping livestock fed and hydrated.
In an effort to solve some of our biggest environmental concerns, companies have come up with meatless burgers and some have even been testing lab-grown animal products.
But who knows? If all else fails, we might be enjoying maggot sausages at ball games in the future.
