It is reported on the Internet that Taiwanese children's magazines educate children to eat insects to save the earth, but insects contain pathogenic and carcinogenic substances.

It has been verified that there is no evidence that it will cause cancer in the current edible insects.

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[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] A message has been circulated on social platforms recently saying, "Is education in Taiwan really hopeless? Children's magazines have begun to brainwash children and eat insects to save the earth... Some insects contain "chitin" that cannot be processed by the human body And toxins... Eating insects will eventually give you respiratory disease, spinal cancer."

Fact-checking agencies found that this was misinformation.

The "Fact Check Report" released by the "TFC Taiwan Fact-Checking Center" on the 3rd pointed out that a message circulated on social platforms and communication software on October 30, accompanied by a picture, said: "Is Taiwan's education really dead? Children's magazines begin Brainwash children, eat insects to save the earth... Some insects contain 'chitin' and toxins that cannot be processed by the human body... Eating insects will eventually cause you to suffer from respiratory diseases and spinal cancer."

Please read on...

Due to rumors that the picture contained the book "Tonight, I Want Some Insects" in the advanced edition of Kang Xuan Learning Magazine, the Inspection Center interviewed Kang Xuan Magazine.

Kang Xuan said that this study magazine is a supplementary learning material to be published in November 2021. It introduces the international trend of edible insects, the countries that eat insects in the world, the culture of edible insects, the nutrition of edible insects, the benefits to the earth's ecology, etc. Is the introduction of a novel food trend.

In addition, in response to the rumor that "insects contain chitin and toxins", the Inspection Center interviewed Zhan Meiling, an associate researcher in the Biology Department of the National Museum of Natural Science.

She said the rumors were wrong.

Chitin (chitin) is ubiquitous in the cell walls of insects, shrimps, crabs, and fungi. It is often found in food and does not cause any problems to the human body. The rumors are unfounded.

However, she also said that people who eat insects do need to be aware of allergies. People who are allergic to shrimp and crabs may also be allergic to insects.

Based on the above, the inspection platform determined that the magazine mentioned in the rumors was published in November 2021 and provided to parents of elementary, middle and senior students, and learning materials freely ordered by schools. The content of this issue introduces the novel trends and knowledge of edible insects.

Experts point out that chitin is commonly found in insects, shrimp, crabs, and various foods, and will not cause harm to the human body.

In addition, edible insects are a new trend in global food. Because of their high nutrition and environmental protection, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has also advocated.

Although it is said that not all insects can be eaten, at present, there is no evidence that edible insects can cause cancer, and there will be relevant regulations when promoting edible insects.

Rumors that falsely claim that eating insects can cause disease and cancer is misinformation.