Truly Nolen's Barry The Bugman Serves Holiday Baking Specialties Such As Ant Nog And Other Delights

HALLANADALE, FLORIDA (Monday, December 11, 2000) - Barry the Bugman's holiday treats come in crunchy and extra crunchy -- even his eggnog.
Barry the Bugman is Barry Murray, spokesman for Truly Nolen Inc., one of the nation's largest family-owned pest control companies. This year, he has released "Not a Creature Was Stirring," a very short cookbook of holiday treats with a twist: the recipes are made with insects. His recipes for 2000 are Ant Nog, Sticky Cinnamon Beetle Buns and Jumpin' Gingerbread Grasshopper cookies.

"What most people don't realize is that insects are a staple or a delicacy in many cultures in Asia and Africa. While many people in the United States turn their noses up at sauteed grubs, they might be eating up to a pound of insect parts a year in ways they don't even suspect," Murray said.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services even has set standards regarding the inclusion of insect parts in some foods. Foods testing with amounts higher than the standards may be pulled off the shelves by the Food and Drug Administration. Many flour beetles, weevils and other insects that live in granaries wind up milled along with the grain on which they're feeding. The same goes for ground spices such as paprika or even chocolate.

"When you take a bit, you might not see a leg or antenna because they're ground up in such tiny pieces," he said. "Besides, they add extra protein."

How much protein? According to Montana State University's figures, small grasshoppers average about 20.6 grams of protein per 100 grams. Giant Water Beetles have about 19.8 grams of protein and red ants average 13.9 grams. Lean ground beef averages about 27.4 grams and broiled cod checks in at 28.5 grams.

Termites are a good source of iron, averaging about 35.5 milligrams per 100 grams. Crickets have average over 75 milligrams of calcium.

Truly Nolen International has franchises in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Portugal, Turkey, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Ireland, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos.

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