FAO reels in famous songstress, Aluna to popularise insect dishes
(KPL) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had been carrying a high profile publicity campaign on the inclusion of insects as a nutritious food item for any Noy Sixpack Laotian.
In the local context, its station in Vientiane will be holding, "Saep Laai Laai! 2010" - A Celebration of the Delicious Lao Insect" event at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (ITECC) on 28 August from 4.00pm to 8.00pm.
Attendees to this event would be given samples of insect dishes prepared by chefs from 15 restaurants in Vientiane.
A panel of judges would select the tastiest dish and the chef who cooked it would be invited to showcase the dish at the United Nations Pavilion, Shanghai World Expo 2010, next month.
During the press conference, held in the premises of the FAO station in Laos, fellow journalist, Malichanh of Lao Phatthana, a Lao language daily, queried whether the insects that thrived in those places where pesticide had been sprayed were safe for human consumption.
An FAO officer replied that a sample of such insects had been sent to a laboratory of Columbia University, USA, for rigorous testing.
However, it was obvious to everyone that given the widespread use of pesticide in the country and the leakage of explosive chemicals from some of the countless cluster bombs or UXO that littered one quarter of the total area of Laos, the insects that had been contaminated by such toxic chemicals should not be eaten by any person.
While there was now the big hoopla on eating insects, what should be uppermost in the minds of the young campaigners was food safety. In the past, there had been press reports in the KPL News on deaths of people caused by consumption of pesticide-contaminated vegetables and wild mushrooms.
To reel in the crowd for the coming event, the local FAO station contracted Laotian songstress, Aluna Thavonesouk, a Lao Neferetti, as the ambassador of this campaign.
However, much to the disappointment of her many fans, she would not be singing any of her sizzling songs during the coming event as there was no mention about it during the press conference and in the press release.
For her to compose and sing a song on the joy of eating insects, to belt out the musical notes in her sultry voice, then it would touch the heartstrings of many Laotians, so much so they would just wolf down the insects during this event.
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