‘Insect Bread’ to be sold in Finnish supermarkets

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – One of Finland’s largest food companies is selling what it claims to be a first: insect bread.

Markus Hellstrom, head of the Fazer group’s bakery division, says one loaf contains about 70 dried house crickets, ground into powder and added to the flour.

Hellstrom says the crickets represent 3 percent of the bread’s weight.

He said Thursday that “Finns are known to be willing to try new things,” and according to a survey commissioned by Fazer “good taste, freshness” were among the main criteria for bread.

Hellstrom said in a statement that Finnish legislation was changed on Nov. 1 to allow the sale of insects as food.

The first batch of cricket breads will be sold in major Finnish cities Friday.