Aflatoxin Contamination Detected in Nutrient and Anti-Oxidant Rich Edible Stink Bug Stored in Recycled Grain Containers.

Recently, there has been multi-agency promotion of entomophagy as an environmentally-friendly source of food for the ever increasing human population especially in the developing countries. However, food quality and safety concerns must first be addressed in this context. We addressed these concerns in the present study using the edible stink bug Encosternum delegorguei, which is widely consumed in southern Africa. We analysed for mycotoxins, and health beneficials including antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-Qtof-MS) and coupled gas chromatography (GC)-MS. We also performed proximate analysis to determine nutritional components. We identified the human carcinogen mycotoxin (aflatoxin B1) at low levels in edible stink bugs that were stored in traditonally woven wooden dung smeared baskets and gunny bags previously used to store cereals. However, it was absent in insects stored in clean zip lock bags. On the other hand, we identified 10 fatty acids, of which 7 are considered essential fatty acids for human nutrition and health; 4 flavonoids and 12 amino acids of which two are considered the most limiting amino acids in cereal based diets. The edible stink bug also contained high crude protein and fats but was a poor source of minerals, except for phosphorus which was found in relatively high levels. Our results show that the edible stink bug is a nutrient- and antioxidant-rich source of food and health benefits for human consumption. As such, use of better handling and storage methods can help eliminate contamination of the edible stink bug with the carcinogen aflatoxin and ensure its safety as human food

Efficiency and improved profitability of insect-based aqua feeds for farming Nile Tilapia fish (oreochromis niloticus L.)

The study evaluated the suitability of black soldier fly larvae meal (BM) as an alternative protein to fish meal (FM) by investigating the effect of partially and completely substituting fishmeal with BM on growth and economic parameters. Increased productivity of aquaculture farmers is severely constrained by the high cost of fish feeds. The details of the research indicate that the BM33 formulation (33% BM and 77% FM) of feed caused a significantly higher fish weight gain. Substitutions with BM can significantly lower the cost of pelletized aquafeed. Policy makers can support BM integration in large scale feed manufacturing.Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)Rockefeller FoundationNorwegian Agency for Development CooperationNetherlands Organization for Scientific ResearchWOTRO Science for Global Development (NWO-WOTRO)The Curt Bergfors Foundation Food Planet Prize AwardGovernment of the Republic KenyaWorld Ban

Nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae feeding on agro-industrial by-products

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), bio-convert organic side streams into high-quality biomass, the composition of which largely depends on the side stream used. In the present study, BSF larvae were reared on feed substrates composed of dried brewers’ spent grains, each supplemented with either water, waste brewer’s yeast, or a mixture of waste brewer’s yeast and cane molasses to obtain 12 different substrates: barley/water, barley/yeast, barley/yeast/molasses, malted barley/water, malted barley/yeast, malted barley/yeast/molasses, malted corn/water, malted corn/yeast, malted corn/yeast/molasses, sorghum-barley/water, sorghum-barley/yeast, and sorghum-barley/yeast/molasses. The crude protein, fat, ash, and mineral contents of the BSF larvae fed each feed substrate were quantified by chemical analyses. The effect of substrate, supplementation, and their interaction on crude protein, fat, and ash contents of BSF larval body composition was significant. Calcium, phosphorus, and potassium were the most abundant macrominerals in the larvae and their concentrations differed significantly among substrates. These findings provide important information to support the use of BSF larval meal as potential new source of nutrient-rich and sustainable animal feed ingredients to substitute expensive and scarce protein sources such as fishmeal and soya bean meal

Method of storage of processed insects a) traditionally wooven wooden baskets, b) used grain bags and c) clean zip lock bags.

<p>Method of storage of processed insects a) traditionally wooven wooden baskets, b) used grain bags and c) clean zip lock bags.</p

Representative total ion chromatogram showing fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) detected in processed and unprocessed <i>E</i>. <i>delegorguei</i>.

<p>Peaks 1–10 indicate FAMEs shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0145914#pone.0145914.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p

Representative total ion chromatogram showing flavonoids detected in samples of <i>V</i>. <i>apiculata</i> leaves and of <i>E</i>. <i>delegorguei</i>.

<p>Peaks 1–4 indicate the flavonoids shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0145914#pone.0145914.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p

Representative total ion chromatogram of the amino acid profile of unprocessed and processed insects.

<p>Peaks 1–10 indicate amino acids shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0145914#pone.0145914.t005" target="_blank">Table 5</a>.</p

The nutritive value of black soldier fly larvae reared on common organic waste streams in Kenya

In Africa, livestock production currently accounts for about 30% of the gross value of agricultural production. However, production is struggling to keep up with the demands of expanding human populations, the rise in urbanization and the associated shifts in diet habits. High costs of feed prevent the livestock sector from thriving and to meet the rising demand. Insects have been identified as potential alternatives to the conventionally used protein sources in livestock feed due to their rich nutrients content and the fact that they can be reared on organic side streams. Substrates derived from organic by-products are suitable for industrial large-scale production of insect meal. Thus, a holistic comparison of the nutritive value of Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) reared on three different organic substrates, i.e. chicken manure (CM), brewers’ spent grain (SG) and kitchen waste (KW), was conducted. BSFL samples reared on every substrate were collected for chemical analysis after the feeding process. Five-hundred (500) neonatal BSFL were placed in 23 × 15 cm metallic trays on the respective substrates for a period of 3–4 weeks at 28 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The larvae were harvested when the prepupal stage was reached using a 5 mm mesh size sieve. A sample of 200 grams prepupae was taken from each replicate and pooled for every substrate and then frozen at −20 °C for chemical analysis. Samples of BSFL and substrates were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extracts (EE), ash, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), amino acids (AA), fatty acids (FA), vitamins, flavonoids, minerals and aflatoxins. The data were then subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using general linear model procedure. BSFL differed in terms of nutrient composition depending on the organic substrates they were reared on. CP, EE, minerals, amino acids, ADF and NDF but not vitamins were affected by the different rearing substrates. BSFL fed on different substrates exhibited different accumulation patterns of minerals, with CM resulting in the largest turnover of minerals. Low concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium and lead) were detected in the BSFL, but no traces of aflatoxins were found. In conclusion, it is possible to take advantage of the readily available organic waste streams in Kenya to produce nutrient-rich BSFL-derived feed.</p

Oil qualities and physicochemical properties of two African crickets (Scapsipedus icipe and Gryllus bimaculatus)

Globally, there is an increasingly important focus on the exploration of sustainable locally produced oils with better biocompatibility and enhanced performances in biomedical applications. Though crickets are rich source of lipids, there is limited research focus on the quality of these oils. This study evaluates oil qualities of two cricket species: the African cricket Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga and the two-spotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer. The physicochemical properties of the oils were determined using standard analytical methods, while fatty acid analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oxalates and phytates were determined using high performance liquid chromatography, while tannins and total polyphenols were determined using spectrophotometry. Our results demonstrated that both cricket oils had similar physicochemical properties. Peroxide, saponification and acid values ranged between 1.92-2.49mEqO2/Kg, 234-246mgKOH and 1.10-2.19mgKOH, respectively. Both crickets are rich sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids (Eicosapentaenoic, Docosahexaenoic, and linolenic), and omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic). Palmitic (23.89-31.18%), and oleic (10.94-11.4%) were the most predominant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Phytochemical levels ranged between 0 - 97mg/100g. The increasingly growing demand for the use of natural oil sources in the field of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, provide a unique opportunity for cricket oils to be considered as innovative market-driven and sustainable high-valued alternative products

Physicochemical properties of edible cricket oils: Implications for use in pharmaceutical and food industries

The prevailing global market demands locally produced, sustainable oils for biomedical applications. This study focused on evaluating the quality of cricket-derived oils and meals from Scapsipedus icipe Hugel, Tanga, and Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer common delicacy in Africa, following standard methods for physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and phytochemicals (oxalates, phytates, tannins, and polyphenols). The cricket oils physicochemical properties aligned with Codex Alimentarius standards for edible oils, including low solidification temperature (< 2 °C), a high refractive index (1.46), and a specific gravity of 0.88. Notably, peroxide values (1.9 to 2.5 mg mEq O2/kg), acid values (1.1 to 2.2 mg KOH/g), and saponification values (234–246 mg KOH/g) all are indicative of lightness and unsaturated fatty acids. Nutritionally, cricket powder was rich in protein (56.8–56.9% -) and fat (31.7–33.5% -of dry matter), with significant amounts of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Predominant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were palmitic (23.9–31.2 mg/100 g-) and oleic acids (10.9–11.4 mg/100 g- of oil), respectively. Antioxidant values (48.0 to 65.0 mg/100 g), inferred from total polyphenols, suggests a stable oil with long shelf-life. These results highlight the promising and sustainable potential of cricket-derived oils for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries