Understanding Edible Insects as Food in Western and Eastern Societies

Abstract

In the forthcoming decades, insects might become an important alternative protein source for human consumption. However, what do consumers think about eating insects? The answer is still not very clear, and large differences exist between Western and Eastern societies. While the former has never really experienced edible insects as food, (some) Eastern countries have already practiced entomophagy for a long time. To better understand consumers' perception in both types of societies, a literature review was carried out. The results show that in the Western countries, the consumption of edible insects will depend primarily on availability in the market (i.e., regulatory framework and industry), product category (i.e., processed or unprocessed, familiar or unfamiliar), communication, and marketing. Nonetheless, more research studies are needed to explore Eastern consumers and the development of the edible insect market and industry in Asian countries.