Inhabitants of the Indonesian island of Sumatra are faced with the problem of insufficient food supplies and the consequent risk of undernourishment and health issues. Edible insects as a traditional and readily available food source could be part of the solution. The nutritional value of insects depends on many factors, e.g., species, developmental stage, sex, diet, and climatic conditions. However, edible insects bred in Sumatra for human consumption have never before been assessed with regard to their nutritional value. Our study involved analyses of crude protein, chitin, fat and selected fatty acid contents of giant mealworm larvae (Zophobas morio), larvae of the common mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and nymphs of the field cricket (Gryllus assimilis). Crude protein content in the samples ranged from 46% to 56%. Highest (35%) and lowest (31%) amounts of fat were recorded in giant mealworm larvae and larvae of the common mealworm, respectively. Chitin amounts ranged from 6% to 13%. Based on these values, which are comparable to those known from other food insects reared in different regions of the world, the edible species bred in Sumatra could become food sources with a potential to help stave off hunger and undernourishment.
For consumers, one of the basic criteria of choosing a foodstuff, apart from nutritional values, is their taste and smell. In edible insect as a novel food, these criteria are not quite decisive. The main criterion in the Western countries is the acceptability of the food. This work deals with sensory evaluation of protein and energy bars, enriched with cricket flour from American and Czech producers, and their acceptability for consumers from the Czech Republic. The sensory evaluation was done using the questionnaire survey and a simple electronic nose. The survey has shown that edible insect bars are acceptable as a new type of food for consumers in the Czech Republic. Best rated by consumers were orange and pineapple flavour bars from the Czech manufacturer. Statistically significant difference was not detected between evaluation of the bars from the American and Czech manufacturers. Also, the difference between the bars of different flavours from the Czech producer was evaluated using a simple machinea portable electronic nose. There was not a statistically significant difference between bars of different flavours from the American manufacturer. The positive contribution of the survey is that more than 80% of consumers are willing to consume food enriched with edible insect. This fact shows a change in public attitude to these foods.
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