AUTHOR=Murugu Dorothy K. , Onyango Arnold N. , Ndiritu Alex K. , Osuga Isaac M. , Xavier Cheseto , Nakimbugwe Dorothy , Tanga Chrysantus M. 

TITLE=From Farm to Fork: Crickets as Alternative Source of Protein, Minerals, and Vitamins

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.704002

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.704002

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>Globally, there is growing interest to integrate cricket-based ingredients (flour) into food products to combat food and nutrition insecurity. However, there is lack of information on in-depth nutrient profile of the two cricket species (<italic>Scapsipedus icipe</italic> and <italic>Gryllus bimaculatus</italic>), which are the most widely consumed in Africa. Here we determined the nutrient composition of two cricket species and compared them with published records of key animal and plant sources. Our results revealed that the crude protein contents of <italic>S. icipe</italic> and <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic> were similar (56.8 and 56.9%, respectively) and comparable to those of animal protein sources. Both cricket species had balanced amino acid profiles that are superior to that of animal and plant sources, except for histidine and cysteine. The protein digestibility of <italic>S. icipe</italic> and <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic> ranged between 80 and 88%, which is comparable to that of common plant foods but slightly lower than that of animal proteins. The iron, Zinc, and potassium contents were considerably higher in both cricket species compared to that of plant and animal sources. The calcium contents of both crickets (<italic>S. icipe</italic> and <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic>) was superior to that of plant and animal origin except for kidney beans and eggs, respectively. Riboflavin, thiamine, and folic acid concentrations of <italic>S. icipe</italic> and <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic> were superior to that of the conventional sources. Vitamin A levels were significantly higher in <italic>S. icipe</italic> compared to <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic>. This implies that <italic>S. icipe</italic> and <italic>G. bimaculatus</italic> can adequately contribute to our daily required nutrient intake. Thus, integrating cricket flours into ready-to-eat food products would address some of the most pressing nutritional deficiency challenges that many developing countries have to grapple with, particularly high risk to serious health problems such as anemia, poor pregnancy outcomes, hypertension, increased risk of morbidity and mortality, stunted growth and impaired physical and cognitive development. We conclude that edible crickets present unique opportunities for improving food and nutritional insecurity status of both resource-poor and Western populations.</p>