I found this info about grasshoppers/crickets/insects:
Most insects are cheap, tasty and a good natural protein source
requiring less land and feed than raising cows or pigs. Many insects
are far cleaner than other creatures. For example, grasshoppers and
crickets eat fresh, clean, green plants whereas crabs, lobsters and
catfish eat any kind of foul decomposing material as a scavenger
(bottom water feeder). By weight, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars,
weevils, house flies and spiders are better sources of protein than
beef, chicken, pork or lamb according to the Entomological Society of
America. Also, insects are low in cholesterol and low in fat. (ok, so
I see they are low in fat and ferrets need high fat, but once again I
am thinking of only ADDING them to their regular diet of cooked (for
now) meat).
 
Also found this to be interesting for humans:
If Americans could tolerate more insects (bugs) in what they eat,
farmers could significantly reduce the amount of pesticides applied
each year. It is better to eat more insects and less pesticide residue.
If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would relax the limit for
insects and their parts (double the allowance) in food crops, U.S.
Farmers could significantly apply less pesticide each year. Fifty years
ago, it was common for an apple to have worms inside, bean pods with
beetle bites and cabbage with worm eaten leaves. Most Americans don't
realize that they are probably already eating a pound or two of insects
each year. One cannot see them, since they have been ground up into
tiny pieces in such items as strawberry jams, peanut butter, spaghetti
sauce, applesauce, frozen chopped broccoli, etc. Actually, these insect
parts make some food products more nutritious. An issue of the Food
Insects Newsletter reports that 80 percent of the world's population
eats insects intentionally and 100 percent eat them unintentionally.

Dawn and the gang!

[Posted in FML 5853]