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.

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 investigated the substitution effect of phosphate and isolated soybean powder (ISP) by Allomyrina dichotoma larvae powder (AP) in emulsion sausage. The sausages were prepared for five treatments: 1) positive control (PC): sausages manufactured with sodium pyrophosphate (0.3%) and ISP (1%); 2) negative control (NC): sausages manufactured without sodium pyrophosphate, and ISP; 3) phosphate replacement (PR): sausages manufactured with ISP and AP (1%); 4) ISP replacement (IR): sausages manufactured with sodium pyrophosphate and AP; 5) phosphate and ISP replacement (PIR): sausages manufactured with AP. The 1% AP extract showed DPPH radical scavenging (45.65±2.468%) and metal chelating (22.46±3.559%) activity. The high pH value of AP (8.03) increased the pH of the meat batter of PR, IR, and PIR (p<0.05), but there was no inhibitory effect on cooking loss. Cooking loss of IR was not significantly different with PC due to phosphate. The addition of AP decreased the L* and a* values and increased the b* values, and decreased hardness, chewiness, and springiness of PR, IR, and PIR (p<0.05). AP did not inhibit lipid oxidation in sausages, in contrast to phosphate. In sensory evaluation, the addition of AP resulted in low scores for all sensory parameters of the sausages, although most panels had normal or positive awareness (p<0.05). Aroma was more influential on samples than color. Overall, AP did not replace phosphate and ISP in the sausages. Therefore, processes such as eliminating unique aroma and color and increasing solubility through particle size control are necessary to use AP as a protein source.

Insects are gaining recognition as an alternative source of protein. Moreover, Protaetia brevitarsis was listed as a general food ingredient by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As a result, rearing insects has been growing in Korea and domestic farms have begun mass rearing of insects. In order to produce high quality insects, studies on the development of safe and nutritious feed sources are needed. Given the cost of rearing insects, agricultural and industrial by-products are good sources for feed. The efficient utilization of the by-product can help in reducing the cost of production and preventing environmental pollution. In this study, soybean milk residue was investigated for its effects on developmental characteristics of P. brevitarsis until larvae pupated. With three different kinds of feed on the larvae of beetles, the larvae with 10% of soybean milk residue showed the best result for the larval survival rate and growth rate of this beetle. In addition, the feed with 10% soybean milk residue had significantly shorter than control feed (only fermented oak sawdust). However, 20% of soybean milk residue decreased larval weight and extended larval development period. Therefore, we concluded that soybean milk residue were used as a nutritional feed source to promote larval growth and produce quality insects.

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.

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.