Protein, amino acid and mineral composition of some edible insects from Thailand

Abstract This paper focuses on the nutritional profiles of four edible insects from Thailand: the Bombay locust, scarab beetle, house cricket, and mulberry silkworm. The insects were ‘high’ in protein ranging from 27 g to 54 g/100 g edible portion in fresh weight basis, however, only the silkworm met the FAO/WHO requirements of 40% essential amino acids and 0.6 ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids. Tryptophan is the limiting amino acid in the locust and cricket, lysine in the scarab beetle, and leucine in the silkworm. The locust is a ‘source’ of iron and is ‘high’ in zinc, while the scarab beetle is a ‘source’ of magnesium and is ‘high’ in iron and zinc. The cricket bought from the street is a ‘source’ of iron and magnesium and is ‘high’ in zinc, while the cricket from the supermarket is a ‘source’ of calcium (the only one among the insect samples) and is ‘high’ in iron, magnesium and zinc. And lastly, the silkworm, regardless of where it was purchased, is a ‘source’ of iron and is ‘high’ in magnesium and zinc. The arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury content of all the insect samples were well below the maximum values and are deemed safe for consumption as either feed material or complete feed. Edible insects can contribute to people's nutrient requirements and should be sustainably utilized. Aside from direct consumption, there is a huge potential for using the insects as raw material and fortificant in food processing.