What motivates consumers to accept whole and processed mealworms in their diets? A five-country study

Tzompa‐Sosa, Daylan A.; Sogari, Giovanni; Copelotti, Emma; Andreani, Giulia; Schouteten, Joachim J.; Moruzzo, Roberta; Liu, Aijun; Li, Jie; Mancini, Simone

doi:10.1016/j.fufo.2023.100225

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…By analysing the moment "before", results seem to agree with Lammers et al (2019), Dupont and Fiebelkorn (2020), Tuccillo et al (2020), Nyberg (2021), Kr€ oger et al (2022) and Padulo et al (2022) that had already identified the emotion disgust and neophobia triggered on the confrontation of insects as food. Furthermore, the "dislike" was found by Tzompa-Sosa et al (2023). In addition, this study suggests adding fear to such emotional factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

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Does it bug you eating bugs? The emotions of anthropoentomophagy

Ferreira,

Rodrigues,

Gouveia

et al. 2024

BFJ

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PurposeThe use of insects as food is a proposed solution for the increased demand for food worldwide, but it lacks acceptance because of restrictive emotional factors. This article aims to understand better customers' emotions’ role in considering and consuming insect-based food.Design/methodology/approachTo assess their acceptance, an experiment was developed with 38 participants living in Portugal to identify how people feel when consuming processed insect bars compared to cereal bars (of equal flavour). A video was recorded “before”, “during” and “after” the consumption of such foods, and the triggered emotions and affective states were identified using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) and the circumplex model of affect, respectively. After consumption, the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) was asked to be completed.FindingsIt was observed that the valence and arousal of the emotions and affective states triggered during consumption were higher in the insect bar than in the cereal bar. Its consumption resulted in surprise and a positive evaluation. Processed insect-based foods may result in a potentially increased acceptance of this new food alternative in the market.Originality/valuePrior studies briefly identified disgust as a primary emotion activated by insect-based food. The current research deeply studied emotional responses to insect-based processed foods in the Western world using the dimensional emotional models. This study offers arguments for the insect-based food industry to invest in processed food justified by its potential for acceptance. In addition, it motivates further research focused on other insect-based products (e.g. non-processed ones).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…(2022) that had already identified the emotion disgust and neophobia triggered on the confrontation of insects as food. Furthermore, the “dislike” was found by Tzompa-Sosa et al. (2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Does it bug you eating bugs? The emotions of anthropoentomophagy

Ferreira,

Rodrigues,

Gouveia

et al. 2024

BFJ

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“…Many studies related to edible insects were conducted in Belgium to specifically identify factors supporting entomophagy development in Belgium and in other Western countries ( Caparros Megido et al 2014 , 2016 , Schouteten et al 2016 , Van Thielen et al 2018 , Detilleux, Wittock, et al 2021 ). Three cross-cultural studies that included Belgium were also carried out; however, they were all based on the same online survey ( Sogari et al 2023 , Tzompa-Sosa, Moruzzo, et al 2023 , Tzompa-Sosa, Sogari, et al 2023 ). In Gabon, as in some other African countries (e.g., Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers of insect-based foods: a cross-cultural study between Belgium and Gabon

Detilleux,

Bayendi Loudit,

Le Gall

et al. 2024

Journal of Insect Science

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Human consumption of insects has previously been examined in cross-cultural studies. However, such studies rarely include African countries and willingness-to-pay for insect-based food has never been assessed in cross-cultural studies. The current study presents a cross-cultural study conducted with 409 urban dwellers from Belgium (191 males; 218 females) and 412 urban dwellers from Gabon (219 males; 193 females). Each respondent was surveyed with a questionnaire following the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices model and included questions relative to willingness-to-pay for 2 insect-based foods (insect baguette and insect burger). More than 90% of respondents from both countries were familiar with edible insects. However, acceptance of entomophagy was lower in respondents from Gabon than in respondents from Belgium. Intercultural differences were also recorded between Gabonese ethnic groups. Most respondents who accepted entomophagy were willing to eat the insect baguette and/or the insect burger. These findings confirm that entomophagy could further develop in Belgium and Gabon. Willingness-to-pay varied between countries and between insect-based foods. In Belgium, the average prices of comparable conventional foods (i.e., same foods but without insects) were lower than the average willingness-to-pay for insect-based foods. In Gabon, respondents were not willing to pay extra for insect-based foods. Setting the right price for insect-based foods is a necessary step to promote more frequent insect consumption.

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“…Disgust was also indicated as a barrier to insect consumption in studies conducted in Germany and Italy (Orsi et al, 2019 ; Tuccillo et al, 2020 ). A very recent study showed that in Belgium, China, Italy, Mexico, and the US, aversion and disgust were the most important barriers that led to rejecting whole and processed mealworms in these populations's diets (Tzompa-Sosa et al, 2023 ). In addition, fear has been shown to discourage insect consumption, as demonstrated specifically by the tribe of Yombe in Kongo Central Province (DRCongo) (Balinga et al, 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and collective factors influencing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards edible insects in Kinshasa: a pilot study

Manwanina Kiumba,

Luminet,

Chang

et al. 2023

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine

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Background: More than 300 peoples in the world consume edible insects either as a component of the traditional diet, or in the event of famine. Despite the benefits of insects, their acceptance by some consumers as a source of human food remains the main obstacle to their consumption. The present study focuses on the consumption of edible insects in the Kinshasa city (DRCongo) in a context of food crisis and shortage. Methods: The study examined individual (attitudes, perceived control, intent); collective factors (subjective norms); context of consumption and emotional factors that influence insect consumption. A semi-directive interview study based on the theory of planned behaviour was conducted among 60 participants. Results: The results showed that the consumption is a common practice in the study area, but that its frequency is influenced by factors related to the individual, such as participants’ positive attitudes towards insect consumption and ease of obtaining edible insects. The consumption of insects is also influenced by collective factors, such as family, friends, etc. The taste of insects, contextual factors such as family consumption, nutritional intake, habit and belonging to some specific tribes were related to greater consumption. Negative emotions, such as fear, insect characteristics or lack of knowledge about edible species were related to reduced consumption. Conclusions: The results suggest that there is a need to implement interventions that focus specifically on changing certain attitudes.

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What motivates consumers to accept whole and processed mealworms in their diets? A five-country study

Cited by 5 publications

References 55 publications

Does it bug you eating bugs? The emotions of anthropoentomophagy

Does it bug you eating bugs? The emotions of anthropoentomophagy

Consumers of insect-based foods: a cross-cultural study between Belgium and Gabon

Individual and collective factors influencing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards edible insects in Kinshasa: a pilot study

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