Entomophagy in Gabon across the African context

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
L. Detilleux ◽  
R.N. Poligui ◽  
L. Iannello ◽  
T. Dogot ◽  
F. Francis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
African Context ◽  
Formed Part

Entomophagy is well established in the food habits of Africa; however, country-wide knowledge remains limited for several countries, including Gabon. Here, two surveys on entomophagy were conducted in Gabon through face-to-face interviews. The first survey collected information on insect eating habits from 169 potential consumers. Edible insects formed part of the diet of most Gabonese people, with more than 60% of consumers within participants, and were particularly common among the Teke ethnic group (93%). Familiarity with edible insects was influenced by culture and family, but not by gender or study level. The second survey focused on edible insect species and their host plants, by interviewing a sample of 113 both villagers and retailers. Seventy-five species of insects from six insect orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata and Orthoptera) were consumed in Gabon, and were collected from 48 species of host plant. Many insects were formerly reported in the literature related to entomophagy; however, 13 species were newly reported as edible in this study: Bidessus batekensis, Bunaeopsis licharbas, Copelatus ateles, Copelatus confinis, Copelatus fizpaci, Copelatus tondangoyei, Gonobombyx angulata, Gonometa titan, Hydrocyrius columbiae, Oxychirus semisericeus, Philobota sp., Psara sp. and Ptyelus flavescens. Consequently, these surveys highlighted that entomophagy is common in Gabon. However, strategies to promote edible insects are needed to have a significant impact on food issues in Gabon (e.g. food insecurity and dependence on foreign food supplies). Additional researches on entomophagy in Gabon are required to further develop these strategies.

Edible insects and their acceptance in Western Societies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pijus Jauniskis ◽  
Eleni Michopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Insect Development ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
Tourism Experience ◽  
Cultural Sphere ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality

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.

Insect Allergens on the Dining Table

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Yong Jeong ◽  
Jung-Won Park
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Arginine Kinase ◽  
House Dust Mites ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Dust Mites ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Respiratory Allergies ◽  
Inhalant Allergens

Edible insects are important sources of nutrition, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Recently, edible insects have gained considerable interest as a possible solution to global exhaustion of the food supply with population growth. However, little attention has been given to the adverse reactions caused by insect consumption. Here, we provide an overview of the food allergens in edible insects and offer insights for further studies. Most of the edible insect allergens identified to date are highly cross-reactive invertebrate pan-allergens such as tropomyosin and arginine kinase. Allergic reactions to these allergens may be cross-reactions resulting from sensitization to shellfish and/or house dust mites. No unique insect allergen specifically eliciting a food allergy has been described. Many of the edible insect allergens described thus far have counterpart allergens in cockroaches, which are an important cause of respiratory allergies, but it is questionable whether inhalant allergens can cause food allergies. Greater effort is needed to characterize the allergens that are unique to edible insects so that safe edible insects can be developed. The changes in insect proteins upon food processing or cooking should also be examined to enhance our understanding of edible insect food allergies.

What Matters to South African Bank Customers? A Case Study of four Main South African Banks

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingstone Mutsonziwa
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
South African ◽  
Language Usage ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Bank Resolution ◽  
African Context ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Investment Advice

This paper is a follow-up article based on the first article titled Customers speak for themselves: A case of Customer Satisfaction in the four Main South African Banks. Customer satisfaction within the banking industry is very important in the South African context. Although banks are trying their best to give their customers the best service, it is important to continuously measure customer satisfaction and identify service attributes that contribute to overall customer satisfaction for the banks. The data used in the analysis is based on a quantitative survey of 500 randomly selected customers in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town were interviewed using a face to face methodology. The key drivers of overall customer satisfaction based on regression analysis for the different banks were helpfulness and innovativeness (ABSA), helpfulness, innovativeness of the bank, resolution of problems and investment advice (FNB), language usage and friendliness of service consultants (Nedbank), innovativeness of the bank, investment advice and use of language (Standard bank). These attributes were important to the overall customer satisfaction and need to be closely monitored by the management of these banks.

What's eating North America's edible insect industry? An examination of psychological, cultural and regulatory barriers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Christl Li ◽  
Sean B. Cash ◽  
Julie Lesnik ◽  
Timothy S. Griffin ◽  
Joel Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
The Us ◽  
Structural Barrier ◽  
Regulatory Barriers ◽  
Specific Regulation

Abstract Although research has demonstrated the positive nutritional value and environmental benefits associated with edible insect consumption, several factors challenge the growth and development of the edible insect industry for human consumption in the US and Canada. Cultural and psychological factors account for much of the aversion US and Canadian consumers display. The absence of specific regulation also constitutes a structural barrier to more widespread production and sale of edible insects. Compared to the US, the European Union has a more developed edible insect industry and has enacted legislation that removes some of the barriers. As consumer awareness of the putative health benefits of edible insects increases, more comprehensive regulations may emerge to keep pace with the growth of this industry. Overall, a multi-disciplinary approach that addresses both benefits and barriers to consumption is needed to facilitate a robust market for edible insects in the US and Canada.

scholarly journals Possibilities of the Development of Edible Insect-Based Foods in Europe

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 766
Author(s):  
Magdalena Skotnicka ◽  
Kaja Karwowska ◽  
Filip Kłobukowski ◽  
Aleksandra Borkowska ◽  
Magdalena Pieszko
Keyword(s):  
Material Processing ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
The Other ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Mineral Salts ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Alternative Protein ◽  
The World ◽  
The One

All over the world, a large proportion of the population consume insects as part of their diet. In Western countries, however, the consumption of insects is perceived as a negative phenomenon. The consumption of insects worldwide can be considered in two ways: on the one hand, as a source of protein in countries affected by hunger, while, on the other, as an alternative protein in highly-developed regions, in response to the need for implementing policies of sustainable development. This review focused on both the regulations concerning the production and marketing of insects in Europe and the characteristics of edible insects that are most likely to establish a presence on the European market. The paper indicates numerous advantages of the consumption of insects, not only as a valuable source of protein but also as a raw material rich in valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral salts. Attention was paid to the functional properties of proteins derived from insects, and to the possibility for using them in the production of functional food. The study also addresses the hazards which undoubtedly contribute to the mistrust and lowered acceptance of European consumers and points to the potential gaps in the knowledge concerning the breeding conditions, raw material processing and health safety. This set of analyzed data allows us to look optimistically at the possibilities for the development of edible insect-based foods, particularly in Europe.

scholarly journals Nutrition Literacy among Adolescents and Its Association with Eating Habits and BMI in Tripoli, Lebanon

Diseases ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Sara Taleb ◽  
Leila Itani
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽  
Cross Sectional

(1) Background: Adolescence is a period of increased autonomy and independent decision making; it determines health behaviors that can persist into the future. Individual factors like food choices and unhealthy lifestyle have an essential role in the development and prevention of obesity among adolescents and are associated with the nutrition literacy of parents and other adults. While the association of parents’ nutrition literacy with adolescent BMI has been addressed, there is still a scarcity of studies that examine the effect of adolescents’ nutrition literacy on their eating habits and body mass index (BMI) status. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted that included 189 adolescents (68 with overweight and obesity and 121 with normal weight) aged between 14–19 years from four private schools in Tripoli, Lebanon. A self-administered questionnaire that included the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLAI) and the Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) was used. Anthropometrics were measured using standardized procedures. The association between nutrition literacy, food habits and BMI was assessed using a chi squared test for independence and Poisson regression analysis where suitable. (3) Results: Results indicated no association between all five components of nutrition literacy and body mass index categories. Furthermore, there was no association between the Adolescent Food Habits Checklist and overweight or obese BMI status (RR = 0.947, 95%CI: 0.629–1.426) (p = 0.796). No association was observed between nutrition literacy and food habits, except for an inverse association with macronutrients literacy. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, the study indicated that there was no association between the components of nutrition literacy with body mass index or with food habits, except for macronutrient literacy.

Overview of edible insect resources and common species utilisation in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Feng ◽  
M. Zhao ◽  
W.F. Ding ◽  
X.M. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Common Species ◽  
Early Research ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Artificial Rearing ◽  
Production Scale ◽  
Migratory Locust ◽  
The Public ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Ancient Times

The custom and culture of entomophagy in China has been preserved since ancient times, with a history going back at least 3,000 years. Presently, more than 300 species of insects with edible value have been taxonomically classified in China. These insect species belong to the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera, Odonata, Megaloptera, Ephemeroptera, Diptera and Blattaria, with a majority of these species belonging to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. The most common include silkworm, tussah, Italian honeybee, oriental honeybee, mealworm, wasps, bamboo worm, locust, cicada, diving beetle and black ant. Since 2010, the number of patent applications for these edible insects has increased rapidly, indicating that the development and utilisation of edible insects in China is ongoing. The use of common edible insects primarily involves direct consumption of the insect body. In addition to fresh insects, frozen, canned and dried insects are also sold on the market. Derived extract products, such as protein, oil, chitin and insect health foods remain in the early research and experiment stages, and the current production scale is small. Bees, silkworm, mealworm and oriental migratory locust come from artificial farming, as farming techniques for these insects are well-developed. Although wasps, sand-crawling insects, bean hawkmoths and bamboo worms have been artificially cultured, the necessary technologies are underdeveloped. The majority of edible insects generally accepted by the public are still primarily collected from nature. In view of the current situation of utilisation, some suggestions have been put forward to strengthen the investigation and evaluation of edible insect resources, and research to focus on utilisation methods and artificial rearing technology in China.

Edible insect value chains in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-201
Author(s):  
S. Niassy ◽  
R. Musundire ◽  
S. Ekesi ◽  
A. van Huis
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Nutritional Security ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Food And Nutritional Security

This special issue was organised in the context of the 22nd meeting of the Association of African Insect Scientists (AAIS), in Wad Medani, Sudan in 2017. The aim was to ‘support impactful research that will yield genuine edible insects products and sustain value chains that enhance food and nutritional security and support sustained livelihoods in Africa’. The issue is composed of contributions from the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The issue attempted to strengthen the traditional inventory and perception studies and emphasise on contributions that explore entrepreneurial developments of insects use as food and livestock feed. The issue also looked at emerging R&D and innovations to enhance the use of insects to improve food and nutritional security and as a major sector in economic development in Africa.

Could new information influence attitudes to foods supplemented with edible insects?

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (9) ◽  
pp. 2027-2039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Barsics ◽  
Rudy Caparros Megido ◽  
Yves Brostaux ◽  
Catherine Barsics ◽  
Christophe Blecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Information Session ◽  
Organoleptic Characteristics ◽  
New Information ◽  
Gender Information ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Broader acceptance of entomophagy (i.e. human consumption of insects) will depend on factors that impact consumers’ perceptions of edible insects. The purpose of this paper is to examine how a broad-based information session would affect consumers’ perceptions and attitudes about an edible insect product. Design/methodology/approach During a taste testing session, preceded or followed by an information session about entomophagy, participants rated the organoleptic characteristics of two bread samples on nine-point hedonic scales. The two bread samples were identical, though one was faux-labelled as containing an insect product. Findings Generalised linear model (GLM) analysis showed effects of gender, information session exposure, entomophagy familiarity, and entomophagy experience on participants’ ratings of the samples. Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney ranked sum tests showed that appearance, flavour, and overall liking were significantly better rated for the bread sample labelled as insect free by participants who attended the presentation a priori. Potential ways to improve information content and delivery in favour of encouraging dietary shifts are discussed. Practical implications This study shows that information about insect-based products could change consumers’ perceptions of such products. The results provide clues regarding how the food industry can adapt communication for target audiences. Originality/value Actual edible insect products were not used in this study. Paradoxically, it is the first to show the impact of an information session on the acceptability of edible insect products, by revealing participants’ perceptual expectations.

scholarly journals Nutrition and Dietary Habits Associated with Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the Population of Omsk region: Case-Control Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
N. G. Shirlina ◽  
V. L. Stasenko ◽  
D. V. Turchaninov ◽  
I. A. Sohoshko
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Red Meat ◽  
Biological Factor ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms

 Relevance.Nutrition is the most important biological factor on which the functioning of the human body depends. The link between the development of colorectal cancer and nutrition and eating habits is well known: excessive consumption of red meat, fats, alcohol, lack of dietary fiber, obesity. Objective: To assess the prevalence and significance of factors related to nutrition and food habits in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the population of the Omsk region.Materials and methods.An epidemiological analytical study (case-control) was conducted, in which 609 people took part - residents of the Omsk Region aged 30 to 85 years (average age 51.2 years; 95% CI 48.1 – 54.3). The study examined 23 factors characterizing the diet and eating habits of study participants.Result and discussion.Of the 23 risk factors for CRC associated with nutrition and food habits, only six confirmed their importance to the residents of the Omsk region: a body mass index of more than 25, alcohol consumption more than twice a month with a predominance of strong, the frequency of red meat consumed more than 10 times a month, the amount of fresh fruit consumed is less than 100 grams at a time, the preference for fatty foods.Findings.The implementation of preventive measures, taking into account the prevalence of risk factors for CRC, including factors related to nutrition and eating habits, reduces the population and individual risk of this pathology in the population of the region, as well as health losses due to malignant neoplasms of the colon and colon.

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