No Grill Pass: Discursive Strategies and the Tautology of Fear around Edible Insects

This paper investigates the discourse surrounding the introduction of edible insects as novel foods in the European Union, focusing on the societal and political reactions in Italy. This reaction neglects the potential of insect farming in terms of sustainability and fosters reactionary standings against novel foods. This cultural aversion is linked to food neophobia, the fear of trying unfamiliar foods, which is influenced by socio-demographic factors such as education, age, and political orientation. The study explores how these responses are rooted in discursive strategies that invoke fear and protectionism, emphasising perceived health risks and threats to culinary traditions. The perspective of “tautology of fear” (Dal Lago 1999) is employed to analyse the media narratives and political statements that perpetuate a sense of threat. Through a media discourse analysis, we take into account public statements by Italian right-wing politicians, social media content posted by political relational influencers, and the audience’s reactions on social media.