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Roasted crickets offered as taco topping at UConn food truck

Few takers so far for out-of-the-box alternate protein source, but it's no joke.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

October 1, 2015

1 Min Read
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University of Connecticut Dining Services is out to bug the customers of its Food for Thought food truck. Among the toppings now available for the truck’s taco menu is…crickets, roasted and available for an additional 99 cents.

Unsurprisingly, only a handful of taco fans have taken advantage, per a recent article in the school’s Daily Campus student paper.

The UConn Dining website touts the new menu item as “an excellent source of protein, calcium, iron and all 9 essential amino acids.” The former creepy crawlies are also organic, GMO-free and Earth Friendly, the site notes helpfully.

According to Daily Campus, the idea was brought to UConn by Executive Director of Dining Services Dennis Pearce, who saw it at a recent food show. The product is sourced from Canadian firm Next Millennium Farms, which specializes in entomoculture, the raising of insects for human consumption as an alternate protein source.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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