The company also makes worms into medicine, cosmetics and soap. This range of products is being launched by the Bogor-based Sabda Alam cooperative, whose members hope to cash in on the fact that breeding worms is cheap and easy. Cosmetic worm mascara retails for 3,000 rupiah. There are 20 products in the full worm range, said the group's chief, Ahmad Tuteng Supriadi. He's no mug, and admits there might be an image problem.
Many people still feel disgusted by worms.
The group has a couple of smart marketing moves up their sleeve. This means that each worm has been slaughtered with a sharp knife and according to Muslim rites. There are also the grand claims linked to the products. The worm drugs, for example, which sell for 20,000 rupiah a bottle, cure cancer, Ahmad pointed out. We hope to expand our distribution chain for these products across the country.