Edible Insects: Consumption, Perceptions, Culture and Tradition Among Adult Citizens from 14 Countries

Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1-Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2-Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment.

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Publication Details

Journal
Foods
Published
2024-10-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13213408
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Insect Utilization and Effects
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.32

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article

Edible Insects: Consumption, Perceptions, Culture and Tradition Among Adult Citizens from 14 Countries

Monica Tarcea, Nada Mallah Boustani, Cristina A. Costa, Cristina Chuck‐Hernández et al.
8 citations
Foods
Insect Utilization and Effects
4.32
article

Edible Insects: Consumption, Perceptions, Culture and Tradition Among Adult Citizens from 14 Countries

Monica Tarcea, Nada Mallah Boustani, Cristina A. Costa, Cristina Chuck‐Hernández, Raquel P. F. Guiné, Marijana Matek Sarić, Μαρία Παπαγεωργίου, Emre Bayraktaroğlu, Paula Correia, Małgorzata Korzeniowska, Maša Černelič-Bizjak, Sofia G. Florença, Leticia González, Sofía Campos, Bruno Esteves, Anabela Fragata, Ilija V. Djekic, Fatmanur Özyürek Arpa, Ana Paula Cardoso, Luísa Cruz‐Lopes, Zanda Krūma, Elena Bartkienė, Ofélia Anjos, Emel Damarlı, Vanessa Alves Ferreira, Manuela Ferreira
article en
8 citations

Abstract

Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1-Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2-Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment.

FoodsVol. 13(21)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LV), University of Primorska (SI), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LT), Universidade Politécnica de Castelo Branco (PT), International Hellenic University (GR), Saint Joseph University (LB), Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (PL), Universitatea de Medicină, Farmacie, Științe și Tehnologie „George Emil Palade” din Târgu Mureș (RO), Istanbul Medipol University (TR), University of Belgrade (RS), Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (PT), Teknoloji Arastirma ve Gelistirme Endustriyel Urunler Bilisim Teknolojileri San Tic (TR), University of Zadar (HR), Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (PT), Universidad de León (ES), Tecnológico de Monterrey (MX)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Insect Utilization and Effects
4.32
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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