Brits would be told to eat bugs under bonkers green plans by civil servants

PEOPLE would be told to eat insects under bonkers green plans by civil servants.

They tried to sneak bushtucker-like proposals for a diet of bugs into PM Rishi Sunak’s eco blueprint last month.

But it was spotted and struck out by Tories at the last minute.

A leaked Whitehall draft of the Carbon Budget proposed the “development of more sustainable protein sources for human diets”.

Along with promoting a vegan diet, it said that “insects may offer environmental benefits”.

Both references were axed from the final document published last month.

It only says more research is needed on “alternative protein”.

Government insiders were especially angry at moves to copy the EU with plans for a creepy-crawly diet.

Earlier this year, Brussels approved crickets and mealworms to be sold as “novel foods” for humans.

Scientists claim insects have a smaller carbon footprint as they require fewer resources to be farmed.

But Countryside Alliance chief Tim Bonner said: “Civil servants need to get real about what the public are prepared to swallow and I can’t see there being very much of an appetite for mealworm burgers.

“We already have a vastly sustainable red meat sector in this country that has incredibly high animal welfare standards.”

An Energy Department spokesman said: “The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan sets out the Government’s policies and proposals to help us to meet our carbon budgets.

“We do not comment on leaks.”