The Role of Edible Insects in Diets and Nutrition in East Africa

Kinyuru, John; Nyangena, Dorothy N.; Kamau, Edwin; Ndiritu, Alex Karuiru; Muniu, Joyce; Kipkoech, Carolyne; Weru, Johnson; Ndung’u, Nancy; Mmari, Mercy

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-74011-9_6

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Therefore, besides time spent on harvesting, finding and collecting insects efficiently may play a crucial role in explaining deviations in consumption amounts. Even more so, insects are mainly collected by children: more than two thirds (68%) of harvesting is done by the group between 5 and 15 years of age, which is in accordance with other studies (Costa-Neto and Dunkel, 2016;Ghosh et al, 2018;Kinyuru et al, 2018;Riggi et al, 2013;Stull et al, 2018;Van Itterbeeck et al, 2019). These children can easily pick up beetles such as the Voangory because of their slow, low-altitude flights and their tendency to remain on shrubs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Children tend to adopt the preferences of their parents (Ghosh et al, 2018;Tan et al, 2015), and their preferences vice versa can also influence the household's consumption (Liu et al, 2019;Pambo et al, 2016b). Regarding gender, most of the countries in which entomophagy is common, women and children are the primary gatherers of insects (Akullo et al, 2017;Ghosh et al, 2018;Kinyuru et al, 2018;Niassy et al, 2016;Van Huis et al, 2013;Yen, 2010). This holds true for previously studied sites of Madagascar as well (Van Itterbeeck et al, 2019).…”

Section: Household and External Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why socio-economic and attitudinal factors cannot predict entomophagy in rural areas of Madagascar

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Forneck

Razafindrakotomamonjy

et al. 2022

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Entomophagy is commonly promoted as one solution to fight global food insecurity. Although many research articles have been published on the perception and acceptance of edible insects in Western nations, comparatively little attention has been paid to developing countries. To narrow down the existing research gap, this study investigates insect consumption behaviour in rural areas of Madagascar, a country that is severely affected by chronic malnutrition. The data was obtained from a household survey conducted in January 2020 in the rural commune of Sandrandahy in the central highlands of Madagascar. Using systematic cluster sampling with probability proportional to size, in 12 out of 38 villages, a sample of 216 households was randomly chosen. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine factors that explain differences in the quantities of insects consumed between local consumers. The amount of time households spent for insect harvesting, a variable which was not considered in any of the other studies reviewed, is the single most important factor explaining the amounts of insects consumed. In light of the results, we try to explain why socio-economic factors and most of the product-related attitudinal factors do not play a role in predicting insect consumption patterns in rural areas of Madagascar. More studies with larger samples in Madagascar and other sub-Saharan African countries are needed to validate the results. Future research should seek to make use of mixed-method approaches to provide more context-specific instruments. The promotion of insect rearing as a farming activity, as opposed to harvesting in the wild, is recommended to overcome seasonal availability gaps, exploit the tremendous potential of edible insects for food security, and strengthen the tradition of entomophagy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Household and External Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why socio-economic and attitudinal factors cannot predict entomophagy in rural areas of Madagascar

Meysing

Forneck

Razafindrakotomamonjy

et al. 2022

JIFF

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“…Only a few studies were conducted using insects as components of CFs such as grasshoppers [ 7 ], palm weevil larvae [ 10 , 11 ], termites [ 12 , 13 ], crickets [ 10 ], and akokono [ 14 ] with other local foods. However, a lack of data and information on insect supply and consumption [ 15 ] and culture, taboos, customs, and ethnic preferences have highly influenced the consumption of edible insects [ 16 ]. Among insects, honey bee larvae ( A. mellifera ) are a highly promising food resource since honey bees are reared worldwide and eaten as a delicacy in many cultures [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Quality and Safety of Complementary Foods Developed from Blends of Staple Grains and Honey Bee Larvae (Apis mellifera)

Mekuria

Kinyuru

Mokua

et al. 2021

International Journal of Food Science

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Complementary foods must be adequate to satisfy the nutritional needs of the growing child together with breastfeeding. This study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional composition, microbial safety, and sensory quality of extruded complementary foods developed from blends of staple grains and insect bee larva (Apis mellifera). Teff, maize, soybean, and bee larva samples were milled to flour and blended before extrusion as follows: ComF01 (57% maize, 29% teff, and 14% soybean) and ComF02 (58% maize, 29% teff, and 13% bee larvae) using NutriSurvey software (version, 2007). Nutrient composition, microbial, and sensory analyses of developed flour blends were conducted using standard methods. The proximate composition of moisture, fat, fiber, carbohydrate, and energy was significantly different between the developed and commercial wean-mix foods. ComF02 recorded the highest fat content (14.3 g/100 g), energy (427.18 kcal/100 g), and vitamins A (706 μg/100 g), B3 (8.2 mg/100 g), and B9 (86.7 mg/100 g) while ComF01 had the highest protein content (12.56 g/100 g). Iron (40.94 mg/100 g) and calcium (68.20 mg/100 g) were the minerals with the highest content in ComF02. Both ComF01 and ComF02 met the recommended dietary allowance of nutrients for infants aged 6-12 months. Overall, the present study showed that bee larvae can be used to develop complementary foods that are nutritionally adequate, microbiologically safe, and sensory acceptable meeting the dietary allowance of infants at an acceptable level compared to conventional cereal-based foods.

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“…Entomophagy habits differ from country to country and culture to culture, as do preference factors. Insect consumption depends not only on sensory characteristics (Van Huis, 2013) and nutritional value ( Obopile & Seeletso, 2013;Kinyuru et al, 2018), but also on customs, ethnic preferences, prohibitions (Van Huis & Oonincx, 2017), and medicinal properties (Musundire et al, 2014). Insects were once associated with filth, fear of contamination and disease, as well as psychological and biased thinking about taste, smell, and color (Deroy et al, 2015), with a sense of disgust that entomophagy was motivated by starvation and is merely a survival mechanism (Van Huis, 2013).…”

Section: Preference For Edible Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, edible insects have been highlighted as potential in tackling this issue, in addition to their environmental and economic benefits ( Premalatha et al, 2011;Halloran et al, 2015;Kinyuru et al, 2015). With their protein content and other nutrients similar to and in some cases higher than that of fish and soy (Sánchez-Muros et al, 2014), edible insects production have been advocated as an alternative to conventional meat production (Van Huis, 2013;Payne et al, 2015;Kinyuru et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inventory Reveals Wide Edible Insects’ Biodiversity in Selected Territories of South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

Ishara

Ayagirwe

Karume

et al. 2021

Preprint

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In response to growing food demand, edible insects are seen as a potential source to alleviate food insecurity. With its wide edible insects’ biodiversity, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in Africa. This study aimed at giving a first insight on the inventory showing diversity, perception, consumption, availability, host plants, harvesting techniques and processing techniques of edible insects in South-Kivu, DRC. It recorded twenty-three edible insects belonging to nine families and five orders, some of which are consumed in the larval, adult, egg and pupa stages. Rhyncophorus phoenicis, Alphitobius diaperinus, Macrotermes subhylanus and Acheta domesticus were the most preferred edible insects in Fizi Territory, Ruspolia differens and Apis melifera larvae in Kabare Territory, Imbrasia oyemensis, Imbrasia epimethea, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Rhyncophorus phoenicis in Mwenga Territory, Ruspolia differens, Macrotermes subhylanus, Gryllotalpa africana, Nsike, Nomadacris septemfasciata and Apis melifera larvae in Walungu Territory. R. differens, I. oyemensis, A. melifera larvae, G. africana and Nsike were preferred for their taste. A. domesticus, A. diaperinus and A. melifera larvae were abundant throughout the year, while the others were only available for 9 months or less per year. Numerous plants have been recorded as their hosts, including plants used for food and income. Harvesting strategies and period, processing methods and preservation techniques depend on insect species, local knowledge and practices. These findings suggest similar and thoroughly studies on entomophagy across the country, while encouraging the rearing of edible insects to address the high existing demand and environmental need.

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The Role of Edible Insects in Diets and Nutrition in East Africa

Cited by 19 publications

References 30 publications

Why socio-economic and attitudinal factors cannot predict entomophagy in rural areas of Madagascar

Why socio-economic and attitudinal factors cannot predict entomophagy in rural areas of Madagascar

Nutritional Quality and Safety of Complementary Foods Developed from Blends of Staple Grains and Honey Bee Larvae (Apis mellifera)

Inventory Reveals Wide Edible Insects’ Biodiversity in Selected Territories of South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

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