Edible Insects Research Articles

Host tree-based scenario modelling for predicting a key edible insect, mopane worm Gonimbrasia belina (Westwood, 1894) distribution in Southern Africa

Abstract Gonimbrasia belina, known as the mopane worm, is a large edible caterpillar in tropical and subtropical regions. However, little is known about the bioecology of this species as influenced by its host trees. This study evaluated the importance of different potential host trees in understanding mopane worms’ behaviour and spatial distribution. To assess their relative importance, the study compared models incorporating various mopane worm host trees and predictor variables. Using the species distribution modelling (SDM) package in R, an ensemble of random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and boosted regression tree (BRT) algorithms were used to assess the spatial extent of mopane worm distribution in Southern Africa. Four host tree-based scenarios were developed to assess their contribution to the relative distribution of the mopane worm i.e. (1) by excluding all the potential host trees as explanatory variables and considering only the environmental variables, (2) focusing on the primary host tree, Colophospermum mopane as an explanatory variable together with the other environmental variables, (3) incorporating all the host trees, including C. mopane and (4) examining all other host trees excluding C. mopane. Results demonstrated that incorporating all host trees enhanced the models’ predictive abilities (mean AUC = 0.87) underscoring the significant impact of the alternative host trees on the mopane worm distribution patterns beyond just the C. mopane. This study highlights the significance of host trees in predicting the behaviour and distribution of mopane worm populations, providing valuable insights and decision-making for mopane worm use as an alternative protein source, conservation efforts, and land management practices.

Comparison of Inclusion of Skimmed Milk and Edible Insects on the Nutritional, Sensory and Microbial Qualities of Enriched High Energy Rice Biscuits

Aims: The growing world population, carbon foot prints of rearing conventional protein sources, issues of protein malnutrition (particularly in developing nations) and the urgent needs of protein-rich food relief materials in crisis situations may necessitate the utilisation of underutilised sustainable, nutritious protein sources. The study was conducted to investigate the possibility of using indigenous food crops and substituting milk powder with edible insects’ powder as a sustainable alternative protein source in high energy rice biscuits.
 Study Design: Biscuits were produced following the standard USAID recipe for HEB and comparisons were made with the insect biscuits and STD.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between January 2018 and August 2018.
 Methodology: The high energy biscuits was evaluated for proximate composition, total sugars using Anthrone reagent, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), physical properties such as spread ratio, weight, width etc. Microbial and sensory quality of the biscuits were also determined using standard methods.
 Results: From the findings of the study, rice biscuits with silkworm pupae had outstanding protein (12.76 g/100 g), fat (15.78 g/100 g) and energy (451.38 Kcal/100 g) contents while biscuit with migratory locust powder had slightly higher total ash and CHO. The spread ratios of the biscuits were within acceptable range. In terms of mineral composition, all the insect biscuits were significantly superior to the milk biscuit except for calcium. However, all the rice HEB exceeded the minimum USAID specifications for nutritive elements. The insect biscuits had more than quadruple the recommended pro-vitamin A content (1200. 67 and 2390.05 μg/100 g) and impressive amounts of vitamin C (94.19 and 52.39 mg/100 g). The microbial assessment revealed HEB with remarkable quality signifying wholesome raw materials and hygienic sample preparation. All samples received good sensorial ranking, but HEB with migratory locust was preferred.
 Conclusion: The results demonstrated that edible insects could serve as alternative protein source in the production of a nutritious high energy biscuit with good organoleptic and microbiological qualities.

Detection of Acheta domesticus by real-time PCR in food and feed

Abstract Edible insects are rich in protein and can serve as a significant source of vitamins and minerals. The house cricket (Acheta domesticus) stands out as one of the most nutritious edible insects. In various parts of the world, crickets are consumed roasted, baked, fried, boiled and in the form of cricket flour, a powder of dried and ground crickets. In Europe, processed animal proteins derived from eight insect species (including A. domesticus) have received authorization for use in fish, pig and poultry feed. Therefore, the development of a method for detecting house crickets is essential to verify product compliance and provide accurate labelling information to the end user. In this study, we have established a real-time PCR assay for the specific detection of house crickets. This method is based on the amplification of a mitochondrial fragment that codes for cytochrome b. We assessed its specificity by testing it against 39 other insect species, 7 plant species and 31 other animal species. Furthermore, we successfully evaluated the amplification efficiency, sensitivity, robustness, applicability on commercial samples and transferability to a second laboratory.

Could insects be an alternative food source? A comprehensive review.

According to the United Nations, more than 800 million people are exposed to starvation. It is predicted that the world population will face much more serious starvation for reasons such as global warming, diseases, economic problems, rapid urbanization, and destruction of agricultural areas and water resources. Thus, there are significant hesitations about the sustainability of food resources, and the search for alternative food sources has increased. One of the leading alternative food sources is insects. Although the use of edible insects has been accepted in some areas of the world, entomophagy is not preferred in some countries due to sociocultural conditions, health concerns, neophobia, and entomophobia. Many people do not accept the direct consumption of raw insects, but insects can be transformed into more preferred forms by using different cooking techniques. Some ground edible insects are satisfactory in terms of nutritional value and have a reasonable level of acceptability when added to products such as bread, tortilla, and pasta in varying percentages. The world market value of edible insects was estimated to be US$3.2 million in 2021 and US$17.6 billion in 2032. In this review, the current and future situation of insects as an alternative food source is comprehensively discussed.

The isolation and characterisation of protein from nine edible insect species

The isolation and characterisation of protein from nine edible insect species

Edible Insects: A Sustainable Solution for the Future Food and Feed Security

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed that we as a global society are not prepared enough to deal with food security amid unexpected situations. The global population is steadily increasing, posing significant challenges to food and feed security. With the world's population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, finding alternative protein sources that are environmentally friendly and economically viable is becoming increasingly important. In recent years, there has been growing interest in using insect protein as a sustainable alternative to traditional meat production. This interest stems from several factors, including the increasing global population, the environmental impact of meat production, and the need for more sustainable practices in the food and feed industry. This paper will explore the potential advantages and limitations of edible insects as a source of protein for future food and feed security.

Analysis of Microbial Composition of Edible Insect Products Available for Human Consumption within the United States using Traditional Microbiological Methods and Whole Genome Sequencing

Edible insects offer a promising protein source for humans, but their food safety risks have not been previously investigated within the United States. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the microbial content of processed edible insect products. A total of eight different types of edible insect products, including diving beetles, silkworms, grasshoppers, Jamaican crickets, mealworms, mole crickets, whole roasted crickets, and 100 % pure cricket powder, were purchased from large online retailer for the analysis. All the products were purchased in August 2022 and examined between August 2022 to November 2022. Traditional microbiological methods were employed to determine microbial counts for each product type using three replicates (total number of samples = 24). This included assessing aerobic bacterial spore, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and total viable counts. Salmonella presence was also observed. Additionally, whole genome sequencing was employed to further characterize selected colonies (n = 96). Microbial counts data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA, while sequence data were taxonomically classified using Sepia.Bacilluscereusgroup isolates underwent additional characterization with Btyper3. Product type significantly influenced total viable counts, bacterial spore counts, and lactic acid bacteria counts (P = 0.00391, P = 0.0065, and P < 0.001, respectively), with counts ranging from < 1.70 to 6.01 Log10 CFU/g, < 1.70 to 5.25 Log10 CFU/g, and < 1.70 to 4.86 Log10 CFU/g, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae were only detected in mole crickets (< 2.30 Log10 CFU/g) and house cricket powder (< 2.15 Log10 CFU/g). All samples were negative for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing revealed the presence of 12 different bacterial genera among the analyzed isolates, with a majority belonging to the Bacillus genus. Some of the isolates of Bacillus cereus group were identified as biovar Emeticus. Overall, although edible insects offer a promising food alternative, the presence of Bacillus cereus group in some products could raise concerns regarding food safety.

Influence of the processing on composition, protein structure and techno-functional properties of mealworm protein concentrates produced by isoelectric precipitation and ultrafiltration/diafiltration

Edible insects represent a great alternative protein source but food neophobia remains the main barrier to consumption. However, the incorporation of insects as protein-rich ingredients, such as protein concentrates, could increase acceptance. In this study, two methods, isoelectric precipitation and ultrafiltration-diafiltration, were applied to produce mealworm protein concentrates, which were compared in terms of composition, protein structure and techno-functional properties. The results showed that the protein content of the isoelectric precipitation concentrate was higher than ultrafiltration-diafiltration (80 versus 72%) but ash (1.91 versus 3.82%) and soluble sugar (1.43 versus 8.22%) contents were lower. Moreover, the protein structure was affected by the processing method, where the ultrafiltration-diafiltration concentrate exhibited a higher surface hydrophobicity (493.5 versus 106.78 a.u) and a lower denaturation temperature (161.32 versus 181.44 °C). Finally, the ultrafiltration-diafiltration concentrate exhibited higher solubility (87 versus 41%) and emulsifying properties at pH 7 compared to the concentrate obtained by isoelectric precipitation.

Eco-innovation and the Edible Insect Value Chain: A Systematic Review

The growing interest in edible insects as a component in animal feed and human food has caught the atten- tion of researchers from various fields, resulting in a multidisciplinary approach. This emerging value chain positions itself as a sustainable and innovative alternative when compared to traditional protein chains. In this scenario, the objective of this article is to conduct a systematic review to investigate and present research on the consumption of insects by humans and their use as animal feed in an eco-innovation context. Our investigations indicate that research on the value chain of edible insects is present on almost all continents, revealing a growing interest, especially in developing countries. In these regions, insect consumption not only addresses issues of food security but also contributes to income generation. The increase in research on alternative protein sources, such as edible insects, seems to align with a broader trend toward sustainability in food production, underscoring the relevance of the topic in the search for environmentally friendly solutions. Noteworthy results include global recognition and collaborative efforts in edible insect research, highlighting a collective approach to addressing challenges and exploring opportunities. This global cooperation under- scores the significance of the topic and the necessity for innovative solutions in addressing environmental and food security challenges.

Attitudes and purchase intentions of polish university students towards food made from insects-A modelling approach.

The marketing of insect-derived protein has led to the development of respective legal regulations on such insects-based foods in the European Union. Despite the interest in the area of insect-based food, European researchers have paid relatively little attention to consumer attitudes and behaviors towards such products or the factors that may affect them. Attempts undertaken so far in this respect are insufficient; therefore, there is a need to continue and expand research in this field. The present study attempts to verify the following research hypotheses: H1. Attitudes towards food containing insects are related to the attributes/characteristics of these products, care for health and the natural environment, and attitudes towards novelty (neophilic/neophobic); H2. Intentions to purchase food containing insects can be predicted based on attitudes towards food from insects, product attributes, and attitudes towards environmental health and novelties. An empirical study was conducted among university students (N = 1063) by an indirect interview method using a specially designed questionnaire, via an online platform (Computer-Assisted Web Interview, CAWI) in November 2023. The questionnaire was validated by assessing the construction validity and estimating the reliability of the scales used. The study results demonstrated that the attributes of insect-based food products can influence the positive attitudes towards them and behavioral intentions to consume them, and that the strength of the impact of health quality traits is far greater than that of the organoleptic or functional traits. A negative, statistically significant value of the correlation coefficient between neophobic attitude and intention to purchase this type of food was observed. Thus, respondents without food neophobia were characterized by a positive attitude towards the purchase of foods containing edible insects in their composition.

Potential of house crickets Acheta domesticus L. (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) as a novel food source for integration in a co-cultivation system

Environmental controlled indoor cultivation combined with a co-cultivation of different organisms can address the challenges of agri-food systems and lead towards resilience. Due to their numerous food and feed applications and low environmental impact, house crickets (Achaeta domesticus) are a promising candidate for indoor cultivation systems. The present study explored the potential of house crickets for application in indoor farming and co-cultivation systems, by applying PAR at elevated intensity combined with narrowband UV-B irradiation at 285 nm and observing its effect on the development of the house crickets, their nutritional composition and the mineral content of their frass, which has potential as fertilizer. Narrowband UV-B irradiation increased the survival rate of the house crickets by >20%, while not affecting their weight (g/cricket), compared to house crickets reared in the same conditions without the narrowband UV-B irradiation (Elevated PAR). Furthermore, narrowband UV-B irradiation increased by 16.18% and 67.95% the protein and chitin content, respectively, compared to the house crickets reared in the same conditions without UV-B irradiation. Finally, all the frass samples showed a rich mineral profile containing Ca, K, Mg, Na and S, with narrowband UV-B irradiation affecting its composition throughout the rearing process. Thus, this study demonstrates that house crickets can adapt physiologically to different environments and are suitable for integration into indoor farming and co-cultivation systems. Thus, it is suggested that house crickets, as edible insects, have significant potential to be cultivated with other organisms, an important step for the circular economy.

The Role of Insects in Sustainable Animal Feed Production for Environmentally Friendly Agriculture: A Review.

The growing demand for animal protein, the efficient use of land and water, and the limitations of non-renewable energy sources highlight the global importance of edible insects. This paper provides an overview of the key issues regarding the role of edible insects in sustainable feed production and environmentally friendly agriculture. The indispensable ecological services provided by insects are discussed, as well as the farming, products, and nutritional value of edible insects. A representative selection of the literature reviewing major insect species' chemical compositions and nutritional value is also presented. The use of insect-derived feeds for animal production is presented in detail and discussed for the major terrestrial livestock and aquaculture groups.

Enterococcus casseliflavus regulates amino acid metabolism in edible insect Clanis bilineata tsingtauica: a functional metagenomics study.

The soybean hawkmoth, Clanis bilineata tsingtauica, is an edible insect that possesses high nutritional, medicinal and economic value. It has developed into a characteristic agricultural industry in China. The dominant gut bacterium in diapause larvae of soybean hawkmoths was identified by metagenomics, and the effect of diapause time on gut microbiome composition, diversity and function was investigated. Enterococcus and Enterobacter were measured to be the dominant genera, with Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus pernyi being the dominant species. Compared to the controls, the relative abundance of E. casseliflavus and E. pernyi on day 14 was lower by 54.51 and 42.45%, respectively. However, the species richness (including the index of Chao and ACE) of gut microbiota increased on day 28 compared to controls. The gene function was mainly focused on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Metabolic pathways annotated for amino acids on day 14 increased by 9.83% compared to controls. It is speculated that diapause soybean hawkmoths may up-regulate amino acid metabolism by reducing E. casseliflavus abundance to maintain their nutritional balance. Additionally, tetracycline, chloromycetin and ampicillin were screened as the top three antibiotics against E. casseliflavus. This study not only extends our knowledge of gut microbiome in soybean hawkmoths at the species level, but also provides an initial investigation of gene functionality in interaction with insect hosts.

Unlocking the potential of waxworm (Galleria mellonella) proteins: Extraction, fractionation, and protein quality assessment

Edible insects are increasingly recognized as an alternative and sustainable protein source to meet future protein demands. Owing to its significant protein content (33.43%), the edible insect Waxworm (Galleria mellonella) was characterized in this study for its protein extractability, structural properties, and protein quality. Protein extractability under various pH levels and ionic strengths was evaluated. Subsequently, Osborne fractionation was employed to characterize protein fractions based on their preferential solubilities. The extracted proteins and their respective fractions were visualized by SDS-PAGE, and the most intense bands were excised for proteomics data analysis. Secondary structure, pI, molecular mass, and denaturation temperature were also examined. The quality of waxworm protein was assessed by determining the IVPD, PDCAAS, and amino acid profile. Waxworm proteins exhibited greater stability in alkaline conditions compared to acidic environments. These might also be more sensitive to ionic strength than other alternative proteins, such as those derived from plants. The allergen tropomyosin was identified by SDS-PAGE with an approximate molecular weight of ∼32.5 kDa; however, it can be selectively removed by salt extraction. The secondary structures of waxworm proteins, extracted under various conditions, appeared stable, with α-helix and β-conformation being the predominant conformation. Among the protein fractions, prolamins displayed an α-helix conformation, while albumins, globulins, and glutelins predominantly adopted a β-sheet structure. It was observed that structural features could influence the overall quality of the protein. As for the protein quality, globulins are the protein fraction recommended as these showed the highest EAAI% (924.02), PDCAAS (0.84) and IVPD (76.33%) values.

Evaluation of Thai Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Hydrolysate Powder for Blood Pressure Reduction in Hypertensive Rats.

The angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) plays a pivotal role in hypertension, and while ACE inhibitors are conventional in hypertension management, synthetic medications often carry undesirable side effects. This has spurred interest in alternative ACE inhibitors derived from natural sources, such as edible insects. The silkworm, recognized for its bioactive peptides with potent ACE-inhibitory properties, has emerged as a promising candidate. This study aims to evaluate the acute toxicity and assess the antihypertensive efficacy of crude mature silkworm hydrolysate powder (MSHP) obtained from mature Thai silkworms. Utilizing the commercial protease Alcalase®2.4L, MSHP was administered at various doses, including 50, 100, and 200 mg kg-1, to hypertensive rats. The investigation spans a 14-day period to observe any potential acute toxic effects. Results indicate that MSHP exhibits LD50 values equal to or exceeding 2000 mg kg-1, signifying a low level of acute toxicity. Furthermore, the effective dose for blood pressure reduction in hypertensive rats surpasses 100 mg kg-1 of rat body weight. These findings suggest that MSHP derived from Thai mature silkworms holds promise as a natural antihypertensive food source. The implications of this research extend to the development of functional foods, functional ingredients, and dietary supplements aimed at managing hypertension.

Ethno-entomotherapeutic and metabolite profiling of Coridius chinensis (Dallas), a traditional edible insect species of North-East India

Edible insects possess several health enhancing properties and play an important role in human nutrition. Coridius chinensis is an edible insect that is considered food and claimed as traditional medicine. In the present study, nutritional contents, chemical composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of C. chinensis were analyzed. It was found that the insect sample contains 50.46% moisture, 44.65% protein, 4.45% carbohydrate, 39.42% crude fats, 3.53% ash and 576.11 (Kcal/100 g) energy. Our study highlighted the presence of a significant amount of phenol and flavonoids. The C. chinensis hydro-alcoholic extract showed high antioxidant property and anti-inflammatory activity. GCMS analysis identified 61 volatile compounds. LC–MS analysis of hydroalcoholic extract of C. chinensis revealed the presence of compounds such as etodolac glucuronide, morphine 3-glucuronide, ecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, sufentanil, and palmitoyl ethanololamide. These findings suggest that C. chinensis species can be employed as a valuable food source with excellent therapeutic properties.

AKTUALNE PERSPEKTYWY ZASTOSOWANIA PROTEOMIKI DO IDENTYFIKACJI ORAZ CHARAKTERYSTYKI BIAŁEK POCHODZENIA OWADZIEGO WYKAZUJĄCYCH POTENCJAŁ ALERGIZUJĄCY

Currently, pet owners can easily access a broad array of commercial pet products specifically formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of their cats and dogs. The trend towards organic pet foods, prioritizing whole ingredients over processed ones, is gaining more and more attention, emphasizing sustainability in sourcing dietary proteins. Insects, rich in essential amino acids, emerge as promising protein substitutes, though they do carry potential risks of triggering adverse food reactions, such as allergies in pets. This, in turn, provides a fertile ground for advanced proteomic analysis, facilitating comprehensive identification and quantification of allergens from edible insects. This includes defining immune epitopes originating from these allergens, thus fostering the discovery of potentially new proteins with allergenic potential and aiding in the in vitro diagnosis of allergen sensitization. This review presents the latest advancements in edible insect-derived allergens and the proteomic investigations conducted to analyse them. We offer insights into classical and advanced proteomic approaches designed for identifying and quantifying these allergens in various food matrices. Additionally, we focus on recent studies concerning the characterization of novel insect allergens, exploring sensitization and cross-reactivity mechanisms, with a specific emphasis on pets.

Assessment of the information to consumers on insects-based products (Novel Food) sold by e-commerce in the light of the EU legislation: when labelling compliance becomes a matter of accuracy.

Edible insects are an alternative protein source with environmental, social and health benefits. Insect-based products (IBPs), considered as Novel Foods by the EU legislation, are mainly sold on the EU market through e-commerce. In this study, the current situation of the EU IBPs e-commerce was characterized by i) identifying Food Business Operators involved in the selling and ii) assessing the IBPs' compliance to the EU labelling requirements. Overall, 26 e-commerce platforms were identified, mainly with head offices located in North and Central Europe and 656 IBPs proposed to be sold online were found. Most of IBPs consisted of whole insects (54.9%), followed by protein products (9.5%) and powder insects (8.1%). IBPs made with House cricket (A. domesticus) (50.2%) were the most represented. Overall, only 3.4% of the IBPs were fully compliant with the EU labeling requirements. The high level of non-compliance was mainly related to the absence, incompleteness or inaccuracy of the “additional specific labelling requirements" imposed by Implementing Regulations authorizing the placing on the EU market of IBPs, probably due to their recent entrance in force. Among these, issues related to allergens’ declaration observed in many IBPs reflected possible safety implication for consumers. This study, by providing useful data on the FBOs involved in e-commerce of IBPs and describing the main IBPs categories sold on the EU online market, could also support the Competent Authorities towards more targeted official control activities.

Lab-grown insect meat – Chemical and biological insights – A comprehensive review

Abstract Lab-grown insect meat is a promising alternative to traditional livestock for sustainable food production. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding lab-grown insect meat, emphasizing key aspects such as life cycle assessment, insect cell culture history, technological advancements, and bio-robotics in insect cell culture. Comparisons and challenges between insect and mammalian/avian cell culture methodologies are presented. The nutritional content of edible insects (proximate, amino acid, mineral, and vitamin content) and the potential health benefits of consuming insect meat are discussed. The paper also explores embryonic and adult myogenesis processes in insect cells, as well as the significance of insect body fat and muscle cells in culture. Applications of insect cell culture in various fields, such as food production and pharmaceutical development, are presented. Moreover, the potential occurrence of mutations in lab-grown insect cells is examined. Lastly, the review addresses the drawbacks and limitations of insect labriculture, discussing factors such as scalability, cost-efficiency, and public acceptance. Overall, this comprehensive review provides essential insights into the chemical and biological aspects of lab-grown insect meat, paving the way for further research and development in this emerging field. This article is the first review article reporting the chemical and biological insights of lab-grown insect meat.

Physicochemical properties and ellagic acid accumulation in Tenebriomolitor larvae fed with pomegranate peel-enriched media

Edible insects are a promising and sustainable food source for humans due to their low environmental footprint, high feed conversion ratio, and high protein content. Furthermore, the nutritional profile of the edible insects can be modified depending on the provided diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, proximate composition, and ellagic acid accumulation in Tenebriomolitor larvae fed on corn flour media enriched with pomegranate peel. Corn flour and pomegranate peel were mixed in a 1:1 ratio (w/w) (PCM) and 50 T.molitor larvae were added to each jar. After 12 days of rearing, the weight of T.molitor larvae fed on PCM and the control increased by 88.35% and 58.6%, respectively, compared to their initial values. An increase in carbohydrate, protein and ash contents, along with a decrease in lipid content, was observed in the control diet after 12 days of feeding compared to the initial larvae. Conversely, the PCM diet exhibited an increase in ash and carbohydrate contents and a decrease in lipid and protein contents after 12 days of feeding compared to the initial larvae. Total phenolic content (TPC) of T.molitor larvae did not significantly vary when fed with the control group, while it increased on the fourth and twelfth days for larvae fed with the PCM diet. The CUPRAC antioxidant activity of larvae also increased on the fourth day of feeding on the PCM diet. Ellagic acid was not detected in larvae fed with control and initially, it accumulated in T.molitor larvae fed with PCM after 8 and 12 days of rearing, with concentrations of 92.54 and 115.6 µg/g larvae, respectively. This study highlights the importance of diet in changing the phenolic profile of T.molitor larvae, which can be used as a functional food ingredient to obtain value-added products from agricultural wastes.