The Potential for the Use of Edible Insects in the Production of Protein Supplements for Athletes

Combining Tenebrio molitor frass with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer to improve soil properties, growth parameters, and nutrient content of Sonchus oleraceus crop

This study evaluates the impact of yellow mealworm frass in combination with an inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield, and nutrient concentration in annual sowthistle plants. It was found that the combined application of yellow mealworm frass (YM-frass) as basal fertilizer and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (INF) as top dressing increased the shoot biomass of annual sowthistle up to 67.2 % compared to the INF treatment (100 kg N/ha). The application of both YM-frass and INF increased P, Mg and Fe root concentration. Moreover, the lowest P and K concentration in shoot tissues were found in the unfertilized control treatment, while the reverse was the case for Ca and Fe. In conclusion, yellow mealworm frass can be used instead of inorganic basal fertilizer, whereas its combination with an inorganic nitrogen fertilizer applied as top-dressing during the vegetative growth can increase the yield and quality of leafy vegetables.

Insect-based food products: A scoping literature review

The potential use of edible insects as an alternative animal protein source has recently attracted a great deal of attention in Western countries. This is thanks to their numerous nutritional benefits, in particular in terms of vitamins and essential amino acids, and the need to guarantee food availability for the growing population. The aim of this scoping review is to analyse the current literature published in scientific journals regarding the main issues related to products containing edible insects, to map existing evidence and identify knowledge gaps. The information could serve as a guide for researchers and policy makers in the development of a sustainable innovative edible-insect farming business model. The PRISMA-ScR methodology was used to conduct this scoping review. The string of keywords was searched in three online databases and the screening process produced a total of 116 articles to be reviewed. These findings highlight the crucial issues concerning entomophagy that are currently under discussion, such as edible insect nutritional potential and functional properties, expected health benefits from consumption, consumer acceptability, and potential food safety issues that may arise. The study is limited by the number of databases referred to and by the consultation of papers written only in the English language. The available literature on insect-based food products revealed that edible insect consumption has the potential to bring about many benefits from an environmental, economic, and nutritional point of view. However, this industry faces many challenges in terms of difficulty in obtaining consumer willingness to buy insect-based products and the possibility of health and safety risks arising from their consumption.

Should we provide edible insects in children's diets?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Diets low in animal-source foods or solely consisting of plant-based foods, hardly meet nutrition needs of children, exposing them to inadequate intake of essential nutrients. Thus, including edible insects in children's diets is relevant for meeting nutritional requirements, other potential health benefits, and building more sustainable food systems. Nutrition and health research on insects is novel and still limited. This review covers recently published research between April 2022 and November 2023 focusing on the relevance of including insects in children's diets.

RECENT FINDINGS

Insects provide protein, fat and micronutrients, and are generally nutritionally equivalent to animal-source foods. The protein and fat quality of edible insects varies depending on several factors. Insects also contain chitin which could potentially be beneficial for gut health. For insects to be considered suitable for inclusion in children's diet, they must be accepted. However, children who are unfamiliar with insects respond to them with curiosity and disgust.

SUMMARY

Insect farming can enhance their availability and consumption, potentially addressing nutrition gaps. Furthermore, transitioning from occasional to regular insect consumption requires actual exposure and integration into diets of insects. To affirm the nutrition and health potential of edible insects for children, well designed human studies are essential.