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In many African cultures, insects are part of the diet of humans and domesticated animals. Compared to conventional food and feed sources, insects have been associated with a low ecological foot print because fewer natural resources are required for their production. To this end, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognized the role that edible insects can play in improving global food and nutrition security; processing technologies, as well as packaging and storage techniques that improve shelf-life were identified as being crucial. However, knowledge of these aspects in light of nutritional value, safety, and functionality is fragmentary and needs to be consolidated. This review attempts to contribute to this effort by evaluating the available evidence on postharvest processes for edible insects in Africa, with the aim of identifying areas that need research impetus. It further draws attention to potential postharvest technology options for overcoming hurdles associated with utilization of insects for food and feed. A greater research thrust is needed in processing and this can build on traditional knowledge. The focus should be to establish optimal techniques that improve presentation, quality and safety of products, and open possibilities to diversify use of edible insects for other benefits.

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Cassava starch was debranched using pullulanase and the linear glucans recrystallized by incubation at 60°C or by temperature cycling at 120/60°C, and further subjected to heat‐moisture treatment (HMT). Resistant starch (RS III) contents increased from 21.4 g/100 g in the debranched starch (DS) to 67.3 g/100 g in the debranched starch incubated at 60°C (DRS) and 47.8 g/100 g in the debranched starch subjected to temperature cycling (DCS), and further to 84.8 g/100 g and 88.4% g/100 g in HMT‐DRS and HMT‐DCS, respectively. Total crystallinity varied between 31.4‐59.8% and the crystalline type was C in DS and DRS and A in DCS, HMT‐DRS and HMT‐DCS. The melting properties were characterized by broad endotherms, but the exact melting region and enthalpy were dependent on recrystallization method. The main endothermic peaks of DS and DRS occurred at 103.9 and 109.8°C, respectively, whereas DCS exhibited split endotherms at 113.6 and 138.1°C. Heat‐moisture treatment broadened the endotherms and increased their enthalpies. Scanning electron micrographs revealed surface topography differences related to size and aggregation of individual crystalline bodies.

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Edible insects are increasingly being considered as food and feed ingredients because of their rich nutrient content. Already, edible insect farming has taken-off in Africa, but quality and safety concerns call for simple, actionable hazard control mechanisms. We examined the effects of traditional processing techniques—boiling, toasting, solar-drying, oven-drying, boiling + oven-drying, boiling + solar-drying, toasting + oven-drying, toasting + solar-drying—on the proximate composition and microbiological quality of adult Acheta domesticus and Ruspolia differens, the prepupae of Hermetia illucens and 5th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. Boiling, toasting, and drying decreased the dry matter crude fat by 0.8–51% in the order: toasting > boiling > oven-drying > solar-drying, whereas the protein contents increased by 1.2–22% following the same order. Boiling and toasting decreased aerobic mesophilic bacterial populations, lowered Staphylococcus aureus, and eliminated the yeasts and moulds, Lac+ enteric bacteria, and Salmonella. Oven-drying alone marginally lowered bacterial populations as well as yeast and moulds, whereas solar-drying alone had no effect on these parameters. Oven-drying of the boiled or toasted products increased the aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts but the products remained negative on Lac+ enteric bacteria and Salmonella. Traditional processing improves microbial safety but alters the nutritional value. Species- and treatment-specific patterns exist.