{"id":166628,"date":"2024-04-17T11:36:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T09:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=166628"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:18","slug":"medicine-students-eat-crickets-for-a-better-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/04\/17\/medicine-students-eat-crickets-for-a-better-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Medicine students eat crickets \u2018for a better world\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Medical Faculty Association Rotterdam (MFVR) served crickets on toast at the faculty bar \u2019t Vat on Tuesday. Throughout the week, the faculty association\u2019s sustainability committee is offering several meat-free alternatives for lunch. \u2018I like maggots better than crickets.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Medicine students enjoy their cricket toastie.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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Students could order toastie with crickets at 't Vat on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t actually taste of anything\u201d, says one student. He takes another bite of his cricket toastie. \u201cThe crickets are crunchy, but otherwise have little flavour.\u201d At faculty bar \u2019t Vat next to the Education Centre, students can order crickets on their toasties instead of the familiar ham and cheese.<\/p>\n

Alternative food<\/h2>
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Jelle also orders a cricket toastie.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cWe want to expose people to other options for sustainable food\u201d, says committee member Jelle van der Vliet. \u201cCrickets may be quite extreme, but at least this way people are encouraged to think about sustainable food alternatives.\u201d Besides lunch, the committee is also organising lectures and workshops with sustainability-related themes.<\/p>\n

A better world<\/h2>
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A group of students take their first bite of the crickets together.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Student Sem remains hesitant. \u201cI\u2019m curious, but I have to get used to the idea\u201d, he laughs. \u201cI still have a few hours to decide whether to try one.\u201d His fellow student Ellen has already partaken. \u201cI\u2019m not much of a fan\u201d, she says. \u201cLast year, we had maggots, and I found them much tastier than the crickets. I find the crickets a bit chewy.\u201d Still, she is prepared to give the critters a second chance. \u201cI might stir-fry them with spices or something. Anything for a better world, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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