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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Edible insects have been recognized as a nutritive food, rich in protein and other nutrients of value for the human
body, while being a more sustainable alternative to other conventional protein-based foods. For this reason, and because edible
insects are not a part of the traditional diet in Portugal, an European country of Mediterranean dietary influences, this work
aimed to investigate the knowledge of the population about the nutritive value of edible insects. For that a questionnaire survey
was prepared and data were collected through internet means and were treated using appropriate statistical tools and tests. The
results showed that, in general, the level of knowledge was low, and most especially regarding aspects like the presence of
anti-nutrients, or the fat and mineral contents. Regarding the influence of sociodemographic variables on the level of
knowledge, significant differences were found between sexes or between age groups, and the same applies to the education
level. Reversely, living environment was not found to significantly influence the knowledge. In conclusion, Portuguese
consumers are not yet informed enough about the potential of edible insects as valuable foods.
Description
Keywords
Edible Insect Information Knowledge Sociodemographic Characteristics
Citation
Florença SG, Correia PMR, Costa CA, Guiné RPF. (2024) Consumer’s knowledge about nutritional aspects of edible insects, in Proceedings of the 1525th International Conference on Science, Engineering & Technology, Bruxelas, Bélgica, pp. 18-23.