FAQ

Flavour

What do insects taste like?
Mealworms and grasshoppers taste fresh and slightly nutty, while the taste of crickets resembles that of popcorn. It should be noted, however, that there are differences in taste between fresh and freeze-dried insects.
What do Simply-Bugs Balls taste like?
Our product consists of natural ingredients. In our consumer surveys, they were described as spicy, deliciously crispy with a slightly hot aftertaste. Basically, there are different tastes to experience. Try out the Simply-Bugs Balls and see for yourself!

Our Product

Do our products contain allergens?
People who are allergic to molluscs and crustaceans and/or house dust mites may be allergic to the consumption of insects. Additional allergens in the pop-bugs balls include: celery, wheat flour, wheat bran, eggs, oat fibre
What are the nutritional values?
Nutritional values
per 100 g
Energy
1170 kJ / 280 kcal
Fat
 – of which saturated fatty acids
16 g
2.9 g
Carbohydrates
– of which sugar
25 g
3.4 g
Fibre
3.7 g
Protein
9.0 g
Salt
1.0 g


What is Simply-Bugs Ball's list of ingredients?

Ingredients: Mealworm* **(Tenebrio molitor) 17%, vegetables in variable proportions (carrots, leeks, celery) 16%, breadcrumbs (wheat flour, wheat bran, yeast), chickpea flour 9%, water, rapeseed oil, wheat starch, onion, sunflower oil, whole egg, oat fibre, garlic powder, salt, orange peel, cane sugar, spices, herbs.

*If you have a crustacean, mollusc or dust mite allergy there is also the possibility of an allergy to edible insects.

**EU origin

How do you prepare the Simply-Bugs Balls?

The balls are pre-fried and easy to prepare at home in the oven (180 °C fan oven, 6-8 minutes), frying pan (medium heat, 2-3 minutes) or fryer (180 °C, 3-4 minutes). We recommend different dips (yoghurt-fig dip, yoghurt-mint dip, yoghurt-herb dip) or a sweet chili sauce. Pop-Bugs Balls are perfect as a snack with an aperitif and at events. But they are also a tasty component as a main course in a salad or wrap.

Are insect products vegetarian or vegan?

No, the products are neither vegetarian nor vegan due to the addition of mealworms. We have an increasing number of vegetarians eating our delicious Simply-Bugs Balls. The fact is that insects are animal proteins.

Why is the mealworm proportion so low in the Simply-Bugs Balls?
The cultivation of food insects is still very labour intensive, so the price of the insects is still high at the moment. This is the reason why we have a lower percentage in our Simply-Bugs Balls. The percentage of mealworm in our Burger Pattys is however is already 30%. However, we are convinced that with increased consumer demand, food-insect breeders will automate production, thereby resulting in the price of food insects becoming cheaper in the future.
Where do the insects come from?
The insects come from farms in Europe that specialise in the production of edible insects. The breeders are also regularly inspected by the food control administration.

Insects

What are the reasons for using insects as food?

Insects are a promising and sustainably produced animal protein source for humans.

Insects

  • are nutritious and can provide the human body with important proteins, fats and minerals,
  • have a high feed conversion rate – that is, they need relatively little food to gain 1 kg of weight,
  • need less farmland for rearing compared to conventional livestock,
  • have a better carbon footprint than other species. So, insects produce less greenhouse gases,
  • and need significantly less water than other species.
Which insects are approved for use as food?

In the EU, insects are subject to the Novel Food Regulation. Applications for approval for various insect species have been submitted. In a transitional phase, products that were on the market before the 1st of January 2018 and for which a novel food application was submitted by the 1st of January 2019 may continue to be offered. This is the case with our Simply-Bugs.

In Switzerland, however, three species of insects have been authorised for use as food since the 1st of May 2017:

Tenebrio molitor, larval stage (mealworm)

Acheta domesticus, adult form (cricket)

Locusta migratoria, adult form (European migratory locust)

How is the quality and safety of insect products guaranteed?

As with all foods, there are microbial guideline values which the insect products must meet. By controlling ingredients and end products, we can guarantee that Simply-Bugs products are of high quality and microbiologically safe.

Are there any health risks involved with eating insects?
In principle, no. However, individuals with allergies to molluscs, crustaceans and house dust mites may be allergic to insect products.
Are the insect products also available in an organic version?
Yes, but insects are not regulated in all organic guidelines.

Breeding

How are the mealworms being farmed?
The mealworms are raised by the breeders in specially developed boxes. There, the eggs are laid and in a second step, the insects are then fed with by-products from the food industry, and they grow until they are slaughtered.
The life cycle of the mealworm
  • From the eggs, the larvae hatch, colloquially these are also called mealworms.
  • After a period of growth, the larvae pupate themselves.Inside the pupae the beetles develop.
  • After hatching, the beetles mate. The female lays eggs…
  • …and the cycle begins again.
How are the insects slaughtered?

The most common method of slaughter is freezing. The special thing about insects is that they are cold-blooded animals: when they freeze, they fall into a kind of “hibernation” in which the insects are first anaesthetised and then die.

What were the insects fed with?
Insects are fed with by-products from the food industry. These include wheat bran and unsold bread or vegetables.
Got a question?

Ask us on Instagram, Facebook or via email info@simply-bugs.com.

Newsletter

Newsletter

Micarna SA

Route de l’Industrie 25
Case postale 136
CH-1784 Courtepin
Schweiz
info@simply-bugs.com

Social Media

Instagram
Facebook

Menu