Assessment of Quality and Safety of Winged Termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) Enriched Locally Formulated Complementary Foods

Abstract

Addition of edible insects to local staples used as complementary foods can improve their nutrient content. Nutritional quality and safety of Macrotermes bellicosus enriched boiled rice (BR) and yam (BY) complementary foods (CFs) was assessed using rats. Macrotermes bellicosus (MB) were collected, dried, and refrigerated at -4 o C. Ground MB was added to BR and BY in ratios 10.0%, 15.0%, 20.0% (w/w) to give BR 1 , BY 1 ; BR 2 , BY 2 , and BR 3 , BY 3 respectively. Nutrient content of MB, BY, BR and MB-enriched CFs were determined by AOAC methods. Nutrient bioavailability and safety of BR3 and BY 3 were assessed using rats fed ad libitum for 28 days. Serum trace minerals in the CFs, control and basal diets and histopathological effects of CFs on rats' organs were determined. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p<0.05. Dried MB contained 31.8g protein, 16.4g fat, 3.8g ash, 227.5mg calcium, 2.1mg iron, 15.0mg zinc, 330.4μg retinol equivalent (RE), and 529.0kcal energy/100g sample. The BR and BY contained 3.7-5.9g protein, 70.0-120mg calcium,4.2-5.6mg iron, 1.2-1.5mg zinc and 380-386kcal/100g compared with 7.9-15.3g protein, 242.2-264mg calcium, 2.4-4.4mg iron, 15.1-19.8mg zinc and 357-372kcal/100g enriched CFs (p<0.05). Rats Serum trace minerals ranged between 3. compared with control (3.2, 22.2, 34.1, 48.2) and basal (2.2, 21.1, 24.0 mg, 32.3 μg) diets respectively (p<0.05). No pathological lesions were observed in internal organs of rats on CF diets. Adding Macrotermes bellicosus to local complementary foods is safe and improved their nutritional quality, hence its use is recommended among mothers.

Mineral and Phytochemical Contents of Selected Insects and the Possibility of Their Inclusion in Diets for Livestock

“…The presence of variation in the quantity of minerals between the studied insect species could be linked to feed, geographical origins, and anatomical structure of insects [9,16] and the variation can even occur within the same species [12]. These results are supported by the ndings discovered by Adepoju and Ajayi [24] Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites characterised by the presence of one or more aromatic rings possessing at least one hydroxyl group attached to the aromatic structure [32]. Over decades, it has been discovered that insects can synthesise phenolic compounds in their bodies through the sclerotization process [14].…”

“…This suggest that the addition of the studied insects to food or feed could bring about a signi cant increase in essential minerals in the formulated diets. Furthermore, it was shown that the addition of M. subhylanus to formulated complementary food had shown a linear increase in minerals with an increase in the level of inclusion of M. bellicosus [24]. However, Zn content observed in the present study exceeded the maximum limits of the elements in food as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) [25].…”

Effect of geographical location, insect type and cooking method on the nutritional composition of insects consumed in South Africa

“…However, termites and caterpillars consumed in Africa have been found to contain high zinc levels. For example, Adepoju and Ajayi (2016) , Kinyuru et al (2013) , Madibela et al (2007), Mbah and Elekima (2010) , Siulapwa et al (2012) reported that zinc content of termite and caterpillar ranged from 8-16.9 mg/100 g and 8-14 mg/100 g respectively.…”

Growth performance, biochemical and haematological parameters of BALB/c mice fed on staple grains and bee larvae (Apis Mellifera) blended complementary foods

“…The mice experimental diets were formulated to obtain a 10 % protein level and blended with the basal diet, which is presented in Table 2 ( Adejuwon et al., 2021 ; Adeoti et al., 2018 ; Adepoju and Ajayi, 2016 ; Osundahunsi and Aworh, 2003 ). The composition of the experimental food treatments was calculated using Eq.…”