Perspective on integrated biorefinery for valorization of biomass from the edible insect Tenebrio molitor

Author(s):  
Ana Cláudia da Costa Rocha ◽  
Cristiano José de Andrade ◽  
Débora de Oliveira
Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laroche ◽  
Perreault ◽  
Marciniak ◽  
Gravel ◽  
Chamberland ◽  
...  

Edible insects represent an interesting alternative source of protein for human consumption but the main hurdle facing the edible insect sector is low consumer acceptance. However, increased acceptance is anticipated when insects are incorporated as a processed ingredient, such as protein-rich powder, rather than presented whole. To produce edible insect fractions with high protein content, a defatting step is necessary. This study investigated the effects of six defatting methods (conventional solvents, three-phase partitioning, and supercritical CO2) on lipid extraction yield, fatty profiles, and protein extraction and purification of house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meals. Ethanol increased the lipid extraction yield (22.7%–28.8%), irrespective of the insect meal used or the extraction method applied. Supercritical CO2 gave similar lipid extraction yields as conventional methods for Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) (22.1%) but was less efficient for Acheta domesticus (A. domesticus) (11.9%). The protein extraction yield ranged from 12.4% to 38.9% for A. domesticus, and from 11.9% to 39.3% for T. molitor, whereas purification rates ranged from 58.3% to 78.5% for A. domesticus and from 48.7% to 75.4% for T. molitor.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 192-197
Author(s):  
Joanna Bartkowicz ◽  
Ewa Babicz-Zielińska

Although entomophagy as a diet has been known since the dawn of humanity, it is still considered a novelty to the European market and consumers. This study was performed to evaluate the acceptance of a trend promoted by the FAO diet regarding selected young Polish consumers and it presents the results of a survey conducted among them. The primary goal of this study was to assess the acceptance of new edible insect products with mealworms Tenebrio molitor L. and house crickets Acheta domesticus L. These products were prepared in the form of four different types of bars; one without insects, one with whole mealworms, one with ground mealworms and one with ground crickets. According to consumers, the worst bars were the ones which contained the whole mealworms. Additionally, the main problems with accepting this product were caused by the colour of the ground crickets and visible whole pieces of the insects in the edible bars. The study proved that the acceptance of insect bars as food depends on the tastiness and smell. The acceptance of bars also depends on variants. The basic bar had the highest acceptance rate, while the bar with whole mealworms had the lowest one.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 5866
Author(s):  
Yongho Shin ◽  
Chang Jo Kim ◽  
Sujin Baek ◽  
Leesun Kim ◽  
Kyeong-Ae Son ◽  
...  

Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworm) is an edible insect and is considered a future food. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a novel method for simultaneous analysis of 353 target analytes was developed and validated. Various sample preparation steps including “quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe” (QuEChERS) extraction conditions, number of acetonitrile-hexane partitions, and dispersive-solid phase extraction (dSPE) sorbents were compared, and the optimal conditions were determined. In the established method, 5 g of homogenized mealworms was extracted with acetonitrile and treated with QuEChERS EN 15662 salts. The crude extract was subjected to three rounds of acetonitrile-hexane partitioning, and the acetonitrile layer was cleaned with C18 dSPE. The final solution was matrix-matched and injected into LC-MS/MS (2 μL). For target analytes, the limits of quantitation (LOQs) were ≤10 μg/kg, and the correlation coefficient (r2) of calibration was >0.990. In recovery tests, more than 90% of the pesticides showed an excellent recovery range (70–120%) with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤20%. For more than 94% of pesticides, a negligible matrix effect (within ±20%) was observed. The analytical method was successfully applied and used for the detection of three urea pesticides in 4 of 11 mealworm samples.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Van Broekhoven ◽  
J. Mota Gutierrez ◽  
T.C. De Rijk ◽  
W.C.M. De Nijs ◽  
J.J.A. Van Loon

Insects could provide an alternative and more sustainable source of animal protein compared to conventional livestock. Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L.) can be grown on diets composed of organic by-products. However, these diets could be contaminated with mycotoxins. Thus far, little is known about possible retention, sequestration, excretion or detoxification of mycotoxins by edible insects. T. molitor larvae were grown on wheat flour naturally contaminated with mycotoxins among which deoxynivalenol (DON) was predominant (4.9 mg/kg), wheat flour spiked with 8 mg/kg pure DON, and uncontaminated wheat flour. Larval survival and weight gain on the three diets were compared. Survival was high for larvae on all dietary treatments (>98%) and no difference in weight gain was observed when comparing larvae grown on uncontaminated control diet with larvae grown on contaminated diets (P=0.091). Presence of mycotoxins in larvae and larval faeces was analysed using LC-MS/MS. No DON or DON-derivatives were detected in T. molitor after harvest of the larvae, pointing to degradation by the larvae. Excretion of DON in larval faeces was ca. 14% of the amount of DON ingested for larvae grown on naturally contaminated diet and ca. 41% for larvae grown on DON-spiked diet. These are promising results with respect to food safety of mealworms or derived products grown on mycotoxin-contaminated feed. However, enzymatic degradation of DON in T. molitor, as well as possible toxicity of the resulting metabolites, remain to be further investigated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3615
Author(s):  
Ju Ri Ham ◽  
Ra-Yeong Choi ◽  
Yongjin Lee ◽  
Mi-Kyung Lee

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larva) are an edible insect and a protein-rich food; however, research on mealworms as a substitute protein is insufficient. In this study, mealworm fermentation extract (TMP) was assessed as a replacement for soy protein (SP) in a control diet (CON) or a high-fat diet (HFD) of mice for 12 weeks. TMP substitution reduced body weight, body weight gain, body fat mass (perirenal and mesenteric), fat size, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance compared to the HFD-SP group. TMP alleviated hepatic steatosis (lipid contents and lipid droplets) in high-fat-fed mice and down-regulated the PPARγ, CD36, and DGAT2 gene levels. Proteomic analysis showed that a HFD for 12 weeks up-regulated 20 proteins and down-regulated 17 proteins in mice fed SP. On the other hand, TMP reversed the protein profiles. TMP significantly down-regulated KHK, GLO1, ATP5H, SOD, and DDAH1 and up-regulated DLD, Mup1, CPS1, Ces3b, PDI, and HYOU1 compared to the HFD-SP group. These proteins are involved in the glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, as well as in oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, substituting SP for TMP helped improve HFD-induced obesity, steatosis, and insulin resistance in mice. These results suggest that TMP is a potential substitute for commonly used protein sources.


Author(s):  
Pijus Jauniskis ◽  
Eleni Michopoulou

This paper examines current literature on edible insect consumption in western culture through an inductive lens, addressing environmental, nutritional, food security, anthropological and psychological aspects of the topic. Findings show that western aversion towards edible insects is deeply psychological and cultural, mostly ignoring the pleasure dimensions such as taste, texture and flavour. The nature of the problem appears to be predominantly social. Results suggest that a beneficial route of introducing edible insects into the western diet could be formed through a societal perspective. Tourism and hospitality can potentially play a big part in the edible insect development. For instance, food as a tourism product can attract visitors from different backgrounds whilst food consumption as a tourism experience subliminally promises an experience of novelty and potential newfound pleasure in food. Food as an integral part of various cultures and local heritages entails local dishes that can be considered ‘cultural artifacts’ and their consumption symbolises the consumption of ‘other’. Tourism experiences can expose an individual to lasting personal change, self-discovery and intellectual development. Hence, taking into consideration that acquiring new cultural knowledge increases openness to experience, it is possible that tourism could contribute to adopting the practice of insect consumption in the western cultural sphere.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document