Review: Insects—A Source of Safe and Sustainable Food?— “Jein” (Yes and No)

Abstract

For almost a decade, edible insects have become promoted on a wider basis as one way to combat world hunger and malnourishment, although attempts to do so have a longer history. Contemporary researchers and consumers, particularly those without an entomophagous background, have been rising safety and sustainability concerns. The present contribution seeks a substantiated answer to the question posed above. The possible answer consists of different factors that have been taken into consideration. First, the species and its life cycle. It is mandatory to realize that what is labeled as “edible insects” stands for more than 2,140 animal species, not counting other edible, non-crustacean arthropods. Their life cycles are as diverse as the ecological niches these animals can fill and last between some days to several years and many of them may—or may not—be reproduced in the different farming systems. Second, the level of knowledge concerning the food use of a given species is important, be it traditional, newly created by research, or a combination of both. Third, the existence of a traditional method of making the use of the insect safe and sustainable, ideally from both the traditional and the modern points of view. Fourth, the degree of effectiveness of these measures despite globalization changes in the food-supplying network. Fifth, farming conditions, particularly housing, feeding (type, composition, and contaminants), animal health and animal welfare. Sixth, processing, transport, and storage conditions of both traditional and novel insect-based foodstuffs, and seventh, consumer awareness and acceptance of these products. These main variables create a complex web of possibilities, just as with other foodstuffs that are either harvested from the wild or farmed. In this way, food safety may be reached when proper hygiene protocols are observed (which usually include heating steps) and the animals do not contain chemical residues or environment contaminants. A varying degree of sustainability can be achieved if the aforementioned variables are heeded. Hence, the question if insects can be safe and sustainable can be answered with “jein,” a German portmanteau word joining “yes” (“ja”) and “no” (“nein”).

Production Performance and Nutrient Conversion Efficiency of Field Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) in Mass-Rearing Conditions

“…This tradition has the potential to be used as mini livestock by families, as many insect species can be raised sustainably on agricultural side streams with less of an ecological impact than more typical livestock. On a global level, edible insect farming has just started, bringing the species toward a long process of domestication [ 2 ]. As of 2020, commercial insect rearing is growing as an industrial sector across North America and Europe [ 3 ], including Southeast Asia [ 4 ].…”

“…Within the Orthoptera order, crickets are the most consumed insects across the globe [ 6 , 7 ]. Nowadays, there are many publications [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] related to their nutritive values, properties for improving health, social benefits, and valuable roles in contributing to the economies of many countries and livelihoods.…”

Edible Insects in Latin America: A Sustainable Alternative for Our Food Security

“…Taking into account that the breeding and reproduction of insects varies depending on their class, it is evident that their processing to turn them into food for humans or animals will also be different ( 88 ). New technologies are currently being developed to transform insects into edible foods that meet safety regulations ( 89 ). Pre-processing technologies represents the first step of each edible insects processing route and mainly consist of insect harvesting/separation from the substrate residuals, insects’ inactivation, removal of wings/legs, and washing ( 50 ).…”

“…Food security is a problem in many developing and less developed countries due to increase in human population and decrease in crop productivity and food availability ( 40 ). Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life ( 89 ). The four pillars of food security are availability, access, utilization and stability; while the nutritional dimension is considered integral to the concept of food security ( 123 ).…”

Effect of Dietary Meat Content on Weight Gain, Mortality, and Pre-Pupal Rate in Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae

“…The use of insects as a novel food waste processing technology is being promoted worldwide [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens ) larvae eat a wide range of organic materials, such as food waste and livestock manure, and sixth instar larvae can be used as feed for pets, fish, poultry, and pigs [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”