• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.493-502
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• 2021

We examined American consumers' perceptions and attitudes toward edible insect-based pet food. In this study, 16 Americans in Korea who owned dogs were categorized into two groups, and focus-group discussions were conducted under three conditions. First, we observed the free association perception of edible insect-based pet food, and attitudes were analyzed after providing a newspaper article related to it. Finally, consumer attitude was examined in the context of purchasing. The study found that the participants had high awareness of the eco-friendliness of edible insects and showed a positive attitude toward news articles related to it. However, when it came to purchasing, they considered nutritional and health functional values compared to environmental values. Meanwhile, the rejection of insects was nevertheless the most important negative factor in pet food, as in general food. The results are significant in confirming the possibility of using insect-based pet food by examining the perceptions and attitudes toward the environmental, nutritional, and health functional values of edible insects under three conditions for American consumers.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.83-89
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• 2023

This study presents basic data that can be easily used in the field of cooking about edible insects which are future food and alternative food by investigating the perception of edible insects among culinary majors, who are potential consumers who can improve the utilization of edible insects. As a result, 79.0% of all subjects responded that they have heard of edible insects, and the methods of obtaining information on edible insects were 'friends, colleagues, family members, etc.' 76.8% had the experience of purchasing edible insects, and 71.9% of them purchased 'online' as the purchase method. The reason for purchasing edible insects was 'curiosity', and the purchase of edible insects in the form of 'food or food added' was the highest. In the future, 70.1% are willing to use edible insects, and in particular, the intention to participate in the 'development of new products using edible insects' was the highest. Therefore, in order to improve the utilization and consumption promotion of edible insects, which are emerging as future food resources, it is necessary to develop a multifaceted plan to improve the awareness of edible insects for university students majoring in cooking and to develop educational programs for developing various menus.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.128-139
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• 2022

Although edible insects are attracting attention as future alternative food because of their nutritional, eco-friendly, and economic advantages and functionality, consumption is low, so measures to promote consumption are needed. The problems in edible insect consumption were identified as the aversion to the edible insects, lack of publicity for edible insects newly registered in the Food Code, and difficulties in continuously supplying high-quality edible insects and selling products. To solve these problems, it is necessary to establish effective public relations plans for new edible insects and develop processing methods for improving their taste and flavor, education content about edible insects, and products interesting to the target age. In addition, it is necessary to establish a one-stop cluster that can perform quality control of harmful substances and nutrients, purchase raw materials, sell products, educate, and publicize.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.190-202
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the recognition, purchase, and intake status of edible insects in adults, who are the main consumers of edible insects, and to provide the information necessary to expand the production and consumption of edible insects and related products in the future. Methods: A total of 453 adults (172 males and 281 females) aged 19 years and older were surveyed regarding their awareness of edible insects, purchase and consumption experience, and intention to purchase and consume, and the differences between them were analyzed according to gender and age groups. Data collection took place from December 2018 to January 2019. Results: Those who had knowledge of edible insects accounted for 87.0%, whereas those who had more than average knowledge were 75.9%, suggesting recognition was relatively high. Men had more experience than women in purchasing or consuming edible insects and related products (45.9% vs. 31.0%, p < 0.01). In terms of age, experience was 22.5% in 20-30s, 44.6% in 40-50s, and 63.1% in 60s and older, showing significant growth as age increased (p < 0.001). The satisfaction level of edible insects was highest in taste (3.4 points), and especially for shape and appearance, it decreased as age reduced (p < 0.001). The most common reason for not being willing to use edible insects was feeling repulsive (4.1 points), which was significantly more common in women than in men (4.3 vs. 3.9, p < 0.001), and lower with age (p < 0.001). The most needed information display for using edible insects was country of origin (63.8%), the main nutrient in edible insects was protein (93.6%), and the most preferred form of products was powder (39.5%). Conclusion: According to the above results, the recognition of edible insects was high, whereas experience of using edible insects and intention to use edible insects were low especially in women and younger groups. The reason for this is that consumers are dissatisfied with edible insects due to their appearance. This study is expected to be used as basic data for expanding the production and consumption of edible insects and related products in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.702-707
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• 2017

Insects and their extract have been traditionally used as medicinal resources in Asia. Recently, Gryllus bimaculatus and the larva of Tenebrio molitor, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Allomyrina dichotoma were enlisted as general food ingredients by Korean 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. The overall growth condition, including sawdust fermentation method, feeding period, and rearing density, varies among the investigated farms. It seems that weight of last instar larva 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 in investigated insects. We believe that the present data will contribute to develop and standardize the safe rearing techniques of edible insects in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to develop a seasoning paste fermented by Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis using three edible insects: Tenebrio molitor larvae, Gryllus bimaculatus, and Bombyx mori pupa. No significant changes in pH and titratable acidity were observed between the insect pastes and soybean control during a 5-week fermentation process. The amino nitrogen was 0.35-0.50% (w/w) in the early stage of the fermentation and increased to 0.72-0.78%. The total nitrogen was 2.36-3.62% (w/w) in the early stage and was preserved during the fermentation period. Free amino acids of the insect pastes were similar to those in soybean paste. In general, the fermented insect pastes showed a lower flavor and color than soybean paste but B. mori pupa-fermented paste did not show any significant difference in preference from soybean. Glutamate, aspartate, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine, and serine were found to affect taste preference. It was possible to ferment edible insect protein to produce a fermented seasoning paste like Korean doenjang.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.480-485
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• 2019

The present study was conducted to compare antioxidant capacities of protein hydrolysates from four different edible insects (Protaetia brevitarsis larvae, Allomyrina dichotoma larvae, Gryllus bimaculatus imago, and Tenebrio molitor larvae) which have recently been registered as food varieties in Korea. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from each insect using enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase, and were then separated into a fraction containing ${\leq}3kDa$. According to $RC_{50}$ values and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity results obtained from five different antioxidant analyses, the Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) hydrolysate showed relatively high levels of antioxidant capacity and, in particular, the GB hydrolysate showed considerably strong antioxidant activities in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The GB hydrolysate also showed the strongest inhibitory effect on peroxidation of linoleic acid, and its rate of inhibition at $100{\mu}g/mL$ on day 3 of treatment was 60.26%. These results suggest that protein hydrolysates from edible insects including GB represent potential sources of natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1501-1506
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• 2018

Edible insects have recently been increasingly promoted as a source of protein. As the number of farms rearing these insect increases, it is important to develop safe and nutritious feed sources to improve their commercial quality. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of food by-products as feed supplements for the Korean rhinoceros beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma, which has been registered as a general food ingredient in Korea. We compared the effects of waste citrus peel, soybean curd cake, soybean oil meal, and brewers' dried grain on the growth of third instar larvae of A. dichotoma. Groups of larvae were fed with fermented sawdust and nine different combinations of the above by-products and the effects on their growth were measured until pupation. The highest survival rate was with feed supplemented with 10% brewers' dried grain (66.7%, p<0.05), and these larvae were also 26% heavier (p<0.05) than the control group that received no supplementation. In the 10% brewers' dried grain group, the larval period of third instar was shortened by almost 28 days (p<0.01) compared to the control group. Of all the groups, only that which was fed the brewers' dried grain supplement showed more than a 90% pupation rate (p<0.05). Therefore, brewers' dried grain may be useful as a source of feed for A. dichotoma.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.152-164
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• 2018

Fermented seasoning pastes were prepared by Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis using three edible insects, Tenebrio molitor larvae (TMP), Gryllus bimaculatus (GBP), and Bombyx mori pupa (SPP), with soybean (SBP) as a negative control. Volatile compounds were extracted by the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method and confirmed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 121 volatiles from four samples were identified and sub-grouped as 11 esters, 18 alcohols, 23 aldehydes, 5 acids, 10 pyrazines, 2 pyridines, 7 aromatic hydrocarbons, 10 ketones, 19 alkanes, 9 amides, 4 furans and 3 miscellaneous. TMP, GBP, SPP and SBP had 48, 54, 36, and 55 volatile compounds, respectively. Overall, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine and trimethylpyrazine were found by a high proportion in all samples. Tetramethylpyrazine, a main flavor of doenjang, a Korean fermented seasoning soybean paste, was identified as one of the major compounds in TMP, SPP, and SBP. SBP had benzaldehyde, hexanal, n-pentanal, and aldehydes and SPP with pyrazines.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.135-141
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• 2019

In this study, the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" is designed and proposed for the control of breeding environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae. The proposed "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" separates the breeding room from the air conditioning room. It is a system that creates an environment optimized for breeding and distributes it into a breeding room. When controlling the environment through air-conditioning and humidifiers in insect farms, temperature and humidity vary from part of the breeding room to part. The solution to the problem can be suggested as a solution to the difficulty of producing white-spotted flower mounds of uniform size and weight when selling edible insects. By using the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System," the temperature difference can be reduced by 6℃ and the humidity difference by 24.7% compared to the environmental control of existing insect farms. The temperature and humidity of different parts of the breeding room were improved. Provide the optimal environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae at all times and ensure uniform CO₂ concentration. It can be expected to increase output through annual production and increase income for insect farmers. The proposed "Insecting Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" also controls the set temperature, humidity and CO₂. Environmental control of the breeding of other edible insects and the reproduction of mushrooms that require environmental control in breeding or breeding will also be possible.