Wonder Woman #147 (1964)
Written by Robert Kanigher
Artwork by Ross Andru
Inks by Mike Esposito, Colors by ?
Chef’s Note: Here we discover that Wonder Woman in her youth was a picky eater, just like many children.
And a pretty fierce one too – she doesn’t even taste her slice of Toasted Worm Pie!
Perhaps this is the result of her sheltered upbringing on Themiscyra? Perhaps she never read How to Eat Fried Worms?
The fact is that all species of earthworms are edible by humans. They are considered a delicacy by the Maoris of New Zealand. They even make them into pies in Japan. They are eaten also in parts of Africa, New Guinea, and, it is believed, South America. In the Philippines, the Perionyx excavatus species is bred in vegetable waste and then processed with herbs and seasoning to make steaklets for humans to eat. There was also a food supplement called Eugeton, made out of cultured African Nightcrawlers. They have also been used for medicinal purposes. Earthworms may also be a valuable source of high protein food for livestock, and of course, they are fish food.
Not only are they edible, it’s possible they may solve some of our future food security issues-
The world population and global food demand are increasing, particularly the demand for animal protein sources. At the same time, society produces large quantities of food waste. Sustainable solutions, to ensure enough food and to optimize the use of resources, are necessary. Earthworms grown on fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) can be a future alternative food source, contributing to waste disposal efficiency. They improve food sustainability under nutritional and environmental dimensions. These topics are included in the philosophy of the circular economy. Earthworms, characterized by a high percentage of proteins and minerals, are used as foods in some world countries, including China and the Philippines.