This study evaluated the Protaetia brevitarsis larvae powder’s characteristic changes using hot air drying (60±2.5oC, 12 h) with different pre-treatment methods, including two sacrifice methods, two storage temperatures, and two defatting processes. Appearance, yield, moisture contents, pH, color, proximate analysis, volatile basic nitrogen level, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and total phenol content were assessed. Results revealed that a combination of blanching, defatting, and -20oC storage temperature resulted in higher total phenol contents, lower water contents, and lower volatile basic nitrogen levels than other methods. Defatted treatment resulted in a higher L-value than the non-defatted treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that a combination of -20oC storage, blanching, and defatting is the optimal pre-treatment method for obtaining P. brevitarsis larvae powder with high total phenol content, low water content, and low volatile basic nitrogen, taking into account cost efficiency considerations.

The purpose of this paper was to analyze domestic patents for food using edible insects. From January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2021, patents filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office were searched, and a total of 242 valid patents were selected. The trend of Korean patent applications for edible insect food has increased since 2015, with 57 cases (the highest number) in 2017. As for the edible insects used in food, Bombyx mori L. were the most common with 127 cases, followed by Tenebrio molitor L. with 118 cases. By type of applicant, individuals accounted for the most, with 132 cases. As a result of grouping patents by food classification, 67 cases of edible insects were used in snacks, breads, and rice cakes. As a result of patent analysis, an effort was made to supplement insufficient nutrients by adding nutritionally excellent edible insects to existing foods, and efforts were made to improve the sensory properties of insect foods. It is expected that this study will contribute to establishing future R&D directions and patent application strategies related to edible insect food.

식용곤충 함유 반려동물 식품 시장의 성장 요인을 확인하기 위하여, 반려동물 식품시장 규모가 가장 큰 국가가 미국임을 고려하여 미국인 소비자를 대상으로 식용곤충 함유 반려동물 식품에 대한 인식과 태도를 분석하였다. 연구는 반려견을 키우는 재한 미국인 16명을 두 그룹으로 나누어 심층토론 방식으로 다음과 같은 세 가지 상황에서 진행하였다. 먼저 식용곤충 함유 반려동물 식품에 대한 자유 연상 인식을 관찰하였고, 이후 식용곤충 함유 반려동물 식품 관련 언론 정보를 제공한 후 이에 대한 태도를 분석하였으며, 마지막으로 실제 제품을 제시하여 구매 맥락에서의 소비자 태도를 확인하였다. 분석 결과, 참여자들은 식용곤충 원료에 대해 자유 연상 시 ‘친환경적인’, ‘지속가능한’과 같은 환경적 가치에 대한 인식이 높고 이와 관련한 구체적 언론 정보에 대해서도 긍정적인 태도를 보였지만, 구매 맥락에서는 오히려 환경적 가치보다 ‘저 알레르기’, ‘고단백질’, ‘피부/모질 개선’ 등과 같은 영양 및 건강기능적 가치를 중요하게 여기는 것으로 나타났다. 한편, ‘식용곤충 원료에 대한 거부감’은 일반 식품과 마찬가지로 반려동물 식품에서도 여전히 가장 중요한 부정적 요소로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과는 미국인 소비자들을 대상으로 세 가지 상황에서 식용곤충 함유 반려동물 식품의 환경적, 영양적, 건강기능적 가치에 대한 인식과 태도를 조사함으로써 식용곤충 원료 산업에서 시도하고 있는 반려동물 식품 시장 진출 전망에 대한 가능성을 확인한 것에 의의가 있다.

흰점박이꽃무지 (Protaetia brevitarsis) 유충은 동아시아에서 식용 및 약용으로 널리 사용되고 있다. 흰점박이꽃무지 수요 증가로 인해 유충의 대량 사육 방법이 필요하지만 좁은 공간에서 대량으로 유충을 사육할 경우 곤충 병원성 질병 감염에 취약해진다. Metarhizium anisopliae는 흰점박이꽃무지 유충에 치명적인 곤충 병원성 곰팡이 중 하나이다. 이를 저해하기 위해 항진균 성분이 함유된 옻나무 (Rhus verniciflua Stokes) 추출액을 첨가하였고, 연구 결과 1% 옻나무 추출액을 첨가한 경우 녹강균에 의한 유충의 치사율이 유의미하게 낮았다. 또한 일반톱밥을 급여한 대조구에 비해 옻나무 추출액 처리구에서 유충의 무게가 더 무거웠고 유충 기간이 짧아 지는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 이 연구를 통해 곤충 병원성 곰팡이에 대한 옻나무 추출액의 항진균 효과를 확인할 수 있었으며 흰점박이꽃무지 유충 사육 시 옻나무 추출액을 첨가 하여 급여한다면 병원성 곰팡이에 의한 유충의 치사율을 낮추고 증체량을 높이는 데 효과가 있을 것이다.

This study examined the consumers’ perception of edible insect foods and carried out importance-satisfaction research on the choice attributes of edible insect foods. Through this, the potential of food materials as future food resources was evaluated and foundational data was provided to devise marketing strategies required to develop products made from edible insect foods. According to the results, females had more information on edible insect foods than males (p<0.05), and males gained higher points in trying new foods (p<0.001), overall satisfaction (p<0.001), and purchase intention (p<0.01) than females. Both importance (p<0.05) and satisfaction (p<0.001) about the mean of the choice attributes of edible insects were higher in males than females. The sustenance area showed high importance and high satisfaction, including taste, smell, freshness, sanitation, safety, and shelf-life. Accordingly, to understand edible insect foods properly, it is important to deliver information constantly and publicize them aggressively. In addition, it is necessary to develop various kinds of food made from edible insect foods and functional foods utilizing their nutritive value.

식용곤충에서 최근에 식품공전에 등록된 갈색거저리 유충, 쌍별귀뚜라미 유충에 대해 일선 농가들이 식용곤충의 안정적 공급 및 유통을 위해 수확 후 건조 포장시 보관 유통기한을 설정할 필요가 있다. 건조된 갈색거저리, 쌍별귀뚜라 미 성상(분말, 건조물)을 용량 100g씩 PE, PET, 내습 포장지 등 포장재질에 진공, 밀봉포장을 한 후 저장온도를 45℃ 설정하여 2월 12일부터 3월 11일까지 1개월동안 가속실험을 실시하였다. 1개월후 시료 검체하여 품질 지표를 분석 조사한 결과, 밀봉포장에서 갈색거저리 건조물은 수분, 일반세균, 관능검사 등에서 PET+제습제, PE+제습제가 분말은 PE, PE+제습제 순으로 조사되었고 쌍별귀뚜라미 건조물은 PET+제습제, 내습포장제가 분말은 내습포장제만 기준치 이내로 조사되었다. 진공 포장에서 갈색거저리 건조물은 PE+제습제, 내습포장제가 분말은 PE, 내습포장제로 나타났으며 쌍별귀뚜라미 건조물은 PE+제습제, PET+제습제가 분말은 PET+제습제, 내습포장제 순으로 조사되었다. 특히, 쌍별귀뚜라미 분말은 밀봉, 진공포장 모두에서 일반세균 기준치(1,000cfu/g)가 이상을 보여 본 실험 포장재질로 는 유통이 어려운 것으로 나타났다.

Recently, Gryllus bimaculatus and the larva of Tenebrio molitor, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Allomyrina dichotoma were enlisted as general food ingredients by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As the interest in these insects is growing, the detailed investigation is needed for the standardization of suitable and safe rearing techniques. This survey was conducted via personal interviews about edible insect rearing farms in Korea. The basic feed is fermented oak sawdust for P. brevitarsis and A. dichotoma and wheat bran for T. molitor. The various feed additives are blended with each farm’s own recipes. It seems that larval weight was correlated with the rearing density and duration of the larval period. The heavy metal contents were analyzed after 48 hour starvation and they were very small amount or not detected. We believe that the present data will contribute to develop and standardize the safe rearing techniques of edible insects in Korea.

Edible insects have gained recognition worldwide as complementary protein sources. Recently, four edible insects were newly allowed to be used as food materials in Korea: the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), the cricket (Velarifictorus asperses), the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva (Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis), and the rhinoceros beetle larva (Allomyrina dichotoma). In this study, we evaluated the oxidative stabilities of these four edible insects during cold storage. The insects were sacrificed by blanching for 3 minutes in boiling water. The blanched insects were then stored at 4℃ in an incubator for 42 days. The color values, titratable acidity, peroxide values, acid values, TBARS, contents of VBN, and total plate counts of the insects were measured at days 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, respectively. Blanching decreases oxidative stresses during storage. At day 0, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva showed the highest values for acid value, TBARS, VBN, and microbial counts. Most of the oxidative indicators were significantly changed at day 14 in all four insects, possibly related with the growth on all microbial plates. Based on microbial safety and the oxidative stabilities of lipids and proteins, optimal storage conditions for the cricket, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva, and the rhinoceros beetle larva were 10~14 days at 4℃. Likewise, the mealworm showed rapid oxidation after day 14, but poor qualities were not observed until day 28.

Despite of having excellent nutritional potential and ecological benefits edible insect has received minimal attention in many part of industrialized civilization. Recently since FAO reported edible insects as one of the best sustainable solution for future food and feed security, global attention has been focussed on the use of insects for food stuffs. In Korea, this phenomenon is accelerating with the help of registration of an Act known as insect industry law which came into effect in 2010. We presented status and trend of research on edible insect and implementation from the global perspectives. Edible insect studies are categorized as 1) status of edible insect resources and distribution, 2) anthropological aspects, 3) biodiversity conservation aspects, 4) edible insect development for diet supplement or food ingredients including some legal aspects, and 5) efforts to bring insects on the table. Lastly some examples of large scale implementation for the production and manufacture systems were presented.