Factors affecting consumption of edible insects as food: entomophagy in Myanmar

Abstract

With the world’s population rapidly increasing, food security and malnutrition have emerged as critical issues. Edible insects offer an alternative protein source that requires less land and water than conventional livestock production and emits lower levels of greenhouse gases. Myanmar has a long history of consuming insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, palm weevil larvae, giant water beetles, stink bugs, honeybees, cicadas, and ants. Although insect consumption is common in Myanmar, very little is known about the factors that could potentially encourage or discourage people from consuming edible insects as an alternative meat protein. This study analyses data from 872 respondents to investigate consumer acceptance of entomophagy and the factors influencing edible insect consumption in Myanmar using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression model with sample-selection analysis. Results show that consumer acceptance towards edible insects as food is 67%; moderately high in Myanmar, but consumption frequency is occasional. Edible insect consumption is influenced by ethnicity, religion, opinion towards entomophagy, insect phobia, nutritional properties, social concerns, and discomfort. Meanwhile, consumption frequency is influenced by income, ethnicity, family size, taste, smell, and safety concerns. We find that negative opinions, insect phobia, safety concerns, social concerns, and discomfort are significant bottlenecks for insect consumption in Myanmar. In contrast, the nutritional properties of edible insects motivate individuals to consume them. This highlights the importance of increasing public awareness of the benefits of entomophagy, creating a favourable impression, and reducing social fears about insect consumption. Providing novel insect-based foods, such as flour, could boost consumption. The government should implement, monitor and communicate good manufacturing practices to ensure actual and perceived food safety.