Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Zafar, Aimen
• Shaheen, Mishal
• Tahir, Assam Bin
• Gomes da Silva, Aline Priscilla
• Manzoor, Hafiza Yasmin
• Zia, Sania

Titel

Unraveling the nutritional, biofunctional, and sustainable food application of edible crickets: A comprehensive review

Ist Teil von

• Trends in food science & technology, 2024-01, Vol.143, p.104254, Article 104254

Ort / Verlag

Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals Complete

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Edible crickets, as food and feed ingredients, have garnered significant attention worldwide as potential solutions to address hunger, multifaceted health issues, and to enhance food security and dietary diversity. These small insects have emerged as a viable substitute for conventional protein sources due to their rich nutritional content, diverse bio-functional properties, and environmentally sustainable cultivation methods. This review comprehensively summarizes the edible crickets' nutritional composition, biological functions (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial hypolipidemic, and anti-hypertensive activities), and their potential benefits for human health. Therefore, the primary objective of this review was to offer a comprehensive and contemporary compilation of information regarding edible crickets, to encourage and improve the public's general perception regarding food products derived from crickets. Edible crickets exhibit a scientifically noteworthy nutritional profile, characterized by substantial amounts of carbohydrates, protein, lipids, minerals and vitamins, rendering them an exceptionally valuable and promising food source. In traditional cultures, insects have been processed in an unrecognizable form, like powder or meal using various cooking methods such as steaming, drying, roasting, frying, smoking, and curing to enhance their nutritional and sensory characteristics as well as to extend their shelf life. Additionally, innovative extraction technologies such as ultrasound, pulsed electric field, and dry fractionation are used to extract protein, fat, and chitin from crickets. The outcome of the toxicological research manifested that eating edible crickets is a healthy alternative diet that is risk-free and reliable for humans. Moreover, this review provides an overview of the legal status of consuming edible crickets, considering their growing recognition as an alternative protein source. Considering their potential for resource-efficient cultivation and ecological sustainability, incorporating edible crickets into the human diet represents a promising avenue for advancing both nutrition and environmental responsibility. [Display omitted] •Edible crickets offer a rich source of essential nutrients, including protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.•Beyond their nutritional value, edible cricket revealed several exceptional biofunctional properties.•Edible cricket can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system for future generations.•Edible crickets can be added to the culinary landscape by exploring diverse and innovative incorporation strategies.