Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Insects as Food in Australia
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Participants
3.2. The Questionnaire
- What is your opinion about edible insects as an alternative food source?
- What may influence you to include edible insects and insect-based products, such as cricket flour or edible insects-filled chocolate bars, in your diet?
4. Results
4.1. Sample Characteristics
4.2. Factors Affecting Consumer Opinion about Edible Insects
4.2.1. Taste Factor
4.2.2. Psychological Factor
4.2.3. Health Factor
4.2.4. Environment Factor
4.2.5. Marketing Factor
4.3. Vegetarians and Entomophagy
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Reference | Study Type (Country, Method, Sample Size) | Research Objectives | Key Findings/Implications |
---|---|---|---|
Bogueva and Schmidinger (2019) [38] | Country: Australia Online-based survey (n = 227) | Investigate psychological consumer perception and barriers regarding different meat alternatives, including edible insects | The majority of the participants objected to the practice of insect eating, which is considered not natural and evokes disgust. Most people discussed the insect dilemma as a choice or necessity. The authors suggest that the use of different names for insect-based food products as well as their preparation might decrease the level of disgust, thus increasing the general willingness to try them. |
Castro and Chambers IV (2018) [39] | Country: Australia and 12 other countries worldwide International survey (n = 630 per country) | Determine the impact of adding insect-based products to a brand’s portfolio | The authors found that in Australia, the disgust factor might affect or impact brand equity. People most likely will stop buying products from companies knowing that insect powder has been used in another product from the same brand. Other barriers to acceptance were religion, as well as the perception that insects carry diseases and cause allergic reactions. |
Chan (2019) [40] | Country: Australia Three studies (n = 202; n = 155; n = 204) | Examine the possible impact of mindfulness on the willingness to try insect-based foods | The results suggest that mindfulness (that is, the state of being aware) may increase the disgust and lower the willingness to try eating insects. |
Lensvelt and Steenbekkers (2014) [26] | Country: Australia and the Netherlands Online survey, choice and tasting experiment (survey n = 209, 134 + 75, experiment n = 133) | Understand the main factors involved in consumers’ attitudes toward eating insects | Participants were not aware of the benefits of entomophagy, however, notably, they liked the taste of roasted crickets and biscuits with insect flour. The results indicate that information is seen as trustworthy when provided by scientific researchers, people using the product, the government and well-known relatives, but not when it is promoted by food producers or famous persons. |
Myers and Pettigrew (2018) [27] | Country: Australia Interviews (n = 77) | Explore the attitude towards entomophagy among senior people (60 years and over) | Food safety and hygiene might help in accepting insects as food among older consumers. Appropriate strategies to enjoy the practice of entomophagy should include teaching how to cook insect dishes. |
Wilkinson et al. (2018) [28] | Country: Australia Online survey (n = 820) | Investigate the awareness and acceptance of insects as food among Australians | Taste, appearance, and safety were identified as the main factors which shape the willingness to try eating insects. Food neophobia is confirmed as one of the main traits in consumer behaviour towards entomophagy. |
Demographic Parameter | Category | 2018 Survey (n = 227) | 2019 Survey (n = 328) | Total (n = 555) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender: | % | % | % | ||||
Male | 116 | 51.1% | 163 | 49.8% | 279 | 50.4% | |
Female | 111 | 48.9% | 165 | 50.3% | 276 | 49.7% | |
Age (years): | % | % | % | ||||
18–24 | 108 | 47.6% | 158 | 48.2% | 266 | 47.9% | |
25–40 | 119 | 52.4% | 170 | 50.1% | 289 | 52.1% | |
Household income (AUD): | % | % | % | ||||
Under $50,000 | 24 | 10.6% | 47 | 14.3% | 71 | 12.8% | |
$51 to $74,000 | 55 | 24.2% | 74 | 22.6% | 129 | 23.3% | |
$75,000 to $100,000 | 47 | 20.7% | 79 | 24.2% | 126 | 22.7% | |
$101,000 to $150,000 | 55 | 24.2% | 72 | 21.9% | 127 | 22.8% | |
$151,000 or more | 46 | 20.3% | 56 | 16.8% | 102 | 18.4% | |
Family Status: | |||||||
Single person, no children | 111 | 48.9% | 153 | 46.7% | 264 | 47.6% | |
Single person, with children | 15 | 6.6% | 27 | 8.2% | 42 | 7.6% | |
Married/De facto, no children | 30 | 13.2% | 48 | 14.6% | 78 | 14.0% | |
Married/De facto, with children | 71 | 31.3% | 100 | 30.5% | 171 | 30.8% |
Real Experience of Eating Insects | Expected Experience of Eating Insects |
---|---|
“I’ve been in India and Indonesia and I haven’t eaten many insects, but the ones I have tried surprisingly for me were quite tasty. I think we should reconsider our lack of interest for edible insects and include them in our foods.” (Male, 35 years) | “I never tried them and never will do. No particular reasons—just I can’t open my mouth and put an insect inside, even a chewable insect.” (Female, 19 years) |
“I love insects as I tried some in Cambodia a year ago—not sure what was, crickets or some sorts of larvae, but they were fried and crunchy. I think if people know more about them and especially if they taste them, they will love it.” (Male, 28 years) | “I don’t think real insects to be used as part of our normal diet will be accepted by our society. People are definitely aware that they can eat them, but they can’t put them in their mouth.” (Female, 20 years) |
“Regarding insects, I have tried on holidays in Asia, but never considered to make them part of my diet. I’m not reluctant and don’t think this is weirder than eating other animals but I wouldn’t know where to buy them.” (Male, 29 years) | “Not sure I will enjoy anything that is based on moving creatures. I imagine they are kind of crawling and flying around. I don’t believe they will be something easily digestible for me and I will always have the feeling they are moving inside me.” (Female, 19 years) |
“I have eaten crickets in fried rice in India and was crunchy and tasty.” (Female, 36 years) | “The name gives me an unpleasant sensation. It is not [just] a feeling of something yucky you have to consume, but also the feeling something is creepily crawling inside you after being wrongly swollen.” (Female, 37 years) |
Masculinity Comments |
---|
“Edible insects will be even worse than eating tofu or something like tofu. You will be not a real man if you dare to eat insects.” (Male, 22 years) |
“Meat is power, masculine strength I enjoy the most. Edible or not-edible insects are novelty for me but deeply inside me I believe they are less masculine than meat.” (Male, 32 years) |
“I am a man and I like the taste, the smell, the blood, if you want, of the real juicy meat, not the imitation.” (Male, 22 years) |
“It is not [a] common thing in our culture to consume insects and also not so masculine thing to consider.” (Male, 23years) |
Conspiracy Theory |
---|
“Why it is important for us to consume edible insects? I am sure that behind this idea stays some powerful lobby group or an organisation that wants to promote their products. I am not buying it.” (Female, 35 years) |
“There is something secretive behind pushing us suddenly to eat edible insects and other creatures.” (Male, 35 years) |
“I hope they are not planning to put insect-based ingredients in our meal options, sausages, burgers. As consumers, we are less perturbed if the products are well-labelled and not hidden insect-based ingredients are included.” (Female, 40 years) |
Sense of Disgust |
---|
“Insects, worms, larvae, crickets they are all nuisance that can’t be forgotten as they always provoke negative feelings, nausea and a big aversion.” (Male, 22 years) |
“I am a bit neophobic and usually I am finding it difficult to accept new things and eating edible insects is [an] extremely new thing for me and [I] would not try any insect-based products.” (Male, 26 years) |
“Absolutely disgusting, yuck, pretty yuck. If I can think of edible insects I recall worms, larvae, bugs and straight away I imagine that I have to eat some things that are eating rotten animal flesh.” (Female, 25 years) |
“None of my close circle of friends is happy with the idea of eating edible insects, we all share negative feelings about it.” (Female, 22 years) |
“Edible insects are yuck often crawly, slimy, wet and crunchy. Yuck, yuck, yuck. I don’t want even to look at and touch them.” (Male, 39 years) |
Health Scare Associated | Health Benefits Associated |
---|---|
“Totally not so natural and healthy for humans, even [if] they advertise it as natural and healthy.” (Female, 31 years) | “Depends on nutrition edible insects and other meat alternatives provide, they could be seen as really good for human health.” (Female, 24 years) |
“They offer edible insects, but no one is looking at the possibilities of some outrageous outbreak that will need an urgent address. Maybe insects are not good for humans.” (Male, 23 years) | “They’re maybe nutritious. I’ve heard insects have some special vitamin and minerals and these are tasty alternatives and good for our health.” (Male, 26 years) |
“I am really scared, and miserable thinking of the side effects edible insects could cause to us humans.” (Male, 32 years) | “Edible insects are probably better for the environment and for your health in many ways.” (Male, 21 years) |
“I am sure they have some nasty bacteria, carry unknown diseases, some specific infections, absolutely no way for me to consume them.” (Male, 38 years) | “I believe edible insects bring heaps of essential nutrients that are great for us humans.” (Female, 34 years) |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Sustainable Farming | Better Environment |
---|---|---|
“Insects I read produce only a small fraction of greenhouse gases which make them more environmentally friendly than other farm animals.” (Male, 22 years) | “Edible insects and other meat alternatives are necessary to consume for the environment, the animal welfare and the resources we need to raise animals.” (Male, 22 years) | “The idea of eating insects is outrage but many will embrace it as it’s a solution for a better environment.” (Female, 20 years) |
“This alternative is important as it can help to reduce greenhouse emissions, save animals and focus on health.” (Male, 22 years) | “Edible insects are less land consuming than traditional farmed animals. They can multiply quickly in small areas.” (Female, 22 years) | “The meat processing industry is affecting the world and environment. New meat-free products will help to change our environment in the long term for the good.” (Female, 20 years) |
“Necessary is any food that will keep us alive and save the planet from global warming, like insects.” (Female, 22 years) | “Somewhat any edible insects are fast growing and multiplying which is good for securing sufficient food in short period of time.” (Female, 22 years) | “It is necessary to try new alternatives to our traditional food and meat, and check [the] impact they have on the planet. We need to create a better environment with our food choices.” (Male, 26 years) |
Visual Presentation | Descriptive Presentation |
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“I think it’s the same as eating weird things like oysters, snails, mussels. Edible insects can taste very nice when they are properly cooked and served in a pleasant for the eyes way.” (Female, 39 years) | “Maybe if marketed as [a] good healthy thing to have I could include some insect-based ingredients, more likely flour or something else that is not too visible what exactly it is.” (Female, 22 years) |
“They could add some crunchiness to meat I believe, but still we have to think of the way they are presented and with this respect cricket flour could be a good option on offer.” (Female, 36 years) | “I believe the nutritional benefits are essential for me to decide to consume of not.” (Male, 36 years) |
“Visually insects are not the best-looking food but if created in a nicer way they could be pleasant for people to eat. To be accepted by people, it’s all about how they are presented.” (Male, 37 years) | “Palate pleasant presentation.” (Female, 40 years) |
“Although I don’t consume meat I think it is important to consider insects as an option as they are grass-feeder and also our population will be getting larger and larger, and our only and necessary choice apart from our current food will be to choose insects. That is why I think that we all should consider eating insects.” (Male, 40 years) |
“I am vegetarian, not so strict as I am eating cheese and eggs, but I believe we need the edible insects as solution to reduce the environmental problems caused by livestock production and intense factory farming.” (Female, 21 years) |
“Edible insects and incest-based products are an interesting alternative to meat. Of course, it is far away from an option for a vegan like me but for many people consuming lots of meat will be [a] very good alternative and maybe [a] healthier alternative. It will contribute to the climate change agenda.” (Female, 18 years) |
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Sogari, G.; Bogueva, D.; Marinova, D. Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food. Agriculture 2019, 9, 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9050108
Sogari G, Bogueva D, Marinova D. Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food. Agriculture. 2019; 9(5):108. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9050108
Chicago/Turabian StyleSogari, Giovanni, Diana Bogueva, and Dora Marinova. 2019. "Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food" Agriculture 9, no. 5: 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9050108