Factors associated with the consumption of foods containing edible insects in adults in Vitória-ES, Brazil: a path to food and nutritional security

Abstract

Introduction: Sustainable food production models, like entomoculture, can be a strategy for achieving food security and mitigating environmental collapse. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with the consumption of foods containing insects (FCI) in Vitória - ES. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized a self-applicableonline questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information, knowledge about entomophagy, exposure to consumption, and willingness to try FCI. Results: A total of 391 individuals participated in the study, with the majority being female (69.1%; n=270). Most participants were between 18 and 25 years old (68.0%; n=266) and had higher education (57.3%; n=224).While 86.2% (n=337) of participants expressed interest in trying new foods, only 10.5% (n=41) had consumed edible insects. The main barriers to FCI consumption were disgust (65.1%; n=228), unfamiliarity (52.6%; n=184), and food safety concerns (31.4%; n=110). Factors associated with intentional FCI consumption included higher education, an income between two and four minimum wages, a preference for trying new foods, and a lack of prior knowledge about FCI. Among participants with intentional consumption, there was no significant difference in the preferred forms of FCI. However, among those without intentional consumption, "whole fried/grilled, toasted" and "flour in baked goods or chips" were more favored than "covered with sugar or chocolate". Conclusion: The results contribute to understanding this topic within the Brazilian population, aiding in the development of strategies to encourage the sustainable consumption of insect-containing products, thus ensuring food and nutritional security.