Insects as Food

Question 1

explain the historical practices

Answer 1

• many indigenous groups consumed insects
• they manipulated their environment to gather large amounts of insects
• indigenous knowledge has been used to process and store insects for years

Question 2

what are some common examples of edible insects

Answer 2

• mopane worms
• edible stink bug
• grasshoppers
• house fly maggots
• silkworms
• yellow mealworm
• black soldier flies

Question 3

explain the positive effects of eating insects for humans

Answer 3

• need for sustainable feeding
• insect farming is environmentally and economically friendly
• can be done at home
• rich food source
• appeals to vegans and vegetarians

Question 4

explain the benefits of harvesting insects in agriculture that are considered pests

Answer 4

• allows the controlling of these pests -> ultimately protecting the food crops
• no need to use harsh chemicals -> protecting the environment
• no need to buy harsh chemicals -> saves money in the long run

Question 5

explain the positive effects of eating insects for the environment

Answer 5

• insects can be reared on organic side-streams
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• reduced ammonia emission
• needs less water and land
• less food waste

Question 6

positive effects of eating insects for the environment - organic side-streams

Answer 6

• using biological waste, manure, compost, human waste
• decreases environmental contamination

Question 7

negative effects for the ecosystem

Answer 7

• overexploitation of insect species
• unsustainable harvest practices
• potential for invasive species

Question 8

explain the challenges of insects as food

Answer 8

• marketing
• rearing insects
• difficult to normalize in the West

Question 9

challenges of insects as food - marketing

Answer 9

• main reason people don’t want to eat insects is bc of disgust
• there are 2 strategies of marketing

Question 10

challenges of insects as food: marketing - 2 strategies of marketing

Answer 10

1) advertise as a regular food product with insect additives -> appeals to people that don’t want to eat insects and depicts them as a recognizable food
2) advertise as an exotic food -> appeals to adventurous food consumers

Question 11

challenges of insects as food - rearing insects

Answer 11

• usually raised in heated rooms
• comparable energy to raising chickens but it requires less water, space, and feed than livestock

Question 12

challenges of insects as food - difficult to normalize in the West

Answer 12

• it is not common in the West
• it is common in other parts of the world which can help normalize it in the West

Question 13

potential hazards for insects as food

Answer 13

• possible vector for zoonotic diseases
• can carry toxins
• people with shellfish allergies are likely to have a reaction bc of the protein tropomyosin
• pathogenic risk is high if eaten raw
• chitin
• bacterial hazards

Question 14

potential hazards for insects as food - chitin

Answer 14

• compound in insect exoskeleton
• indigestible for humans
• can cause sensitization
• digestibility problems
• solution: remove chitin before eating

Question 15

potential hazards for insects as food - bacterial hazards

Answer 15

• insects microbiota
• rick minimized through proper processing