Creepy crawlies morphed into burgers and mixed with sugar could be the solution to world hunger, scientists have said.
The less-than ideal grub would mash up mealworms and beetle larvae along with a bit of sugar to create "meat", with South Korean scientists claiming it tastes authentic and "edible".
Whether or not it would pass for a hamburger is up in the air, but scientists say that eating insects has become of recent interest due to the proteins that can be contained inside of the bugs amid overpopulation woes.
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In a project led by Dr. Hee Cho, changes to food intake due to growing populations were cited as necessary, leading to the potential for bug burgers.
In a press release from Dr. Cho, project leader from Wonkwang University, the burgers could help with "environmental issues".
The statement read: "Recently, eating insects has become of interest because of the increasing cost of animal protein, as well as the associated environmental issues.
"Insects are a nutritious and healthy food source with high amounts of fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, fibre and high-quality protein — which is like that of meat.
"Mealworm contains beneficial essential amino acids and is high in unsaturated fatty acids."
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Scientists believe that an uptick in population, with 9.7 billion predicted for 2050 as well as the methane gas produced by cows, have led to the need for a beef substitute.
But for those unwilling to part ways with beef or burgers, scientists have come up with the solution, but it's far more bug-oriented than most will be used to.
Dr. Cho added: "Mealworm is one of the most widely used edible insects in the world. However, edible insects are not universally accepted in our food cultures due to their repellent appearance and unique flavour characteristics."
After a series of trials and errors, a "meat-like" substitute was made up of sugar and worms, giving off a "meat-like" scent that could make for a change in serving options, New York Post reported.
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