Rethinking Food; Eartworms are not native to Northern US and Canada

[Spankenstyne]

I often wonder where the idea that earthworms are nutritionally deficient came from? Everything I've ever heard, read, or found online points to them being a good food source for many animals. For example here's part of an abstract about the Nutritive value of earthworms:

Abstract:
The chemical compositions of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, its casts and body fluids were investigated and compared with those of a variety of common foods and animal feeds. Nutrient analyses showed that Eisenia fetida meal has a high protein content in the range of 54.6 to 71.0% dry matter. The protein content and amino acid composition were close to those of fish meal and eggs, and higher than cow milk powder and soyabean meal. Casts of E. fetida had a protein content of 7.9% dry matter, similar to that of maize meal, and hence earthworm casts could be used not only as an excellent organic fertilizer, but also for partial replacement of maize meal or wheat bran in animal diets. Earthworm body fluids contained 9.4% protein and 78.79 free amino acids per litre and were rich in vitamins and minerals, in particular iron (Fe). Our nutrient analyses suggest that the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) could be an excellent protein supplement for animal feed and human food.

From here: Nutritive value of earthworms. | Sun ZhenJun | Ecological implications of minilivestock: potential of insects, rodents, frogs and snails | Science Publishers, Inc.

I think if anything we underestimate their value. There are tribes of people that eat earthworms for food (look up "Noke" as an example)

[Stefan-A]

I often wonder where the idea that earthworms are nutritionally deficient came from? Everything I've ever heard, read, or found online points to them being a good food source for many animals. For example here's part of an abstract about the Nutritive value of earthworms:

Abstract:
The chemical compositions of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, its casts and body fluids were investigated and compared with those of a variety of common foods and animal feeds. Nutrient analyses showed that Eisenia fetida meal has a high protein content in the range of 54.6 to 71.0% dry matter. The protein content and amino acid composition were close to those of fish meal and eggs, and higher than cow milk powder and soyabean meal. Casts of E. fetida had a protein content of 7.9% dry matter, similar to that of maize meal, and hence earthworm casts could be used not only as an excellent organic fertilizer, but also for partial replacement of maize meal or wheat bran in animal diets. Earthworm body fluids contained 9.4% protein and 78.79 free amino acids per litre and were rich in vitamins and minerals, in particular iron (Fe). Our nutrient analyses suggest that the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) could be an excellent protein supplement for animal feed and human food.

From here: Nutritive value of earthworms. | Sun ZhenJun | Ecological implications of minilivestock: potential of insects, rodents, frogs and snails | Science Publishers, Inc.

I think if anything we underestimate their value. There are tribes of people that eat earthworms for food (look up "Noke" as an example)

There's two things in that text that I'd like to highlight:
1. could be an excellent protein supplement
2. could be an excellent protein supplement

I don't think it's necessary to explain the implications.

[ssssnakeluvr]

earthworm Eisenia fetida



these are the toxic red wigglers right? not a good thing to feed to snakes.

[tspuckler]

Europeans have been keeping and breeding American garters for decades. I'm under the impression that they're feeding their snakes European fish and worms.

What the nutritional value of something is isn't really debatable. It can be broken down and analyzed. To imply worms are somehow "junk food" without having a nutritional analysis comparing them to other foods isn't really saying anything valid.

I understand your theory, but the fact is people have been raising and breeding garter snakes on store-bought nightcrawlers and worms that they find in their yards for years - and not only that, for generations of snakes. If these food sources were somehow deficient, then hobbyists wouldn't be successful keeping and breeding their garter snakes.

[Stefan-A]

Europeans have been keeping and breeding American garters for decades. I'm under the impression that they're feeding their snakes European fish and worms.

Primarily fish and mice.

What the nutritional value of something is isn't really debatable. It can be broken down and analyzed. To imply worms are somehow "junk food" without having a nutritional analysis comparing them to other foods isn't really saying anything valid.

As with any positive claim, evidence is needed for both positions (safe/unsafe).

I understand your theory, but the fact is people have been raising and breeding garter snakes on store-bought nightcrawlers and worms that they find in their yards for years - and not only that, for generations of snakes. If these food sources were somehow deficient, then hobbyists wouldn't be successful keeping and breeding their garter snakes.

How many controlled studies have been made? That's the real question here. It's easy to say "I've been doing this for twenty years" and not realize that the average lifespan has been halved, or that certain illnesses or deformations among offspring are significantly more frequent.

I'm not saying it's the case here, but that's the problem with simple anecdotes from veteran keepers. They are unreliable and biased.