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Publication
Proximate composition and free sugar and fatty acids profiles of Asian hornet larvae: An alternative food source?
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is an invasive species native to Southeast Asia that unintentionally found its way into Europe in 2004.1,2 It was first reported in France and rapidly spread across the country and later into other European nations, including Portugal in 2011.2 Asian hornet larvae are believed to be rich in nutrients, but further research is required to determine their potential as an alternative food source. Although entomophagy is recognized as a sustainable dietary practice for replacing animal protein and promoting food security, it has not received the deserved attention in many Western countries.3 Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the proximate composition and individual profiles of free sugars and fatty acids in Asian hornet larvae from nests collected in Northern Portugal. The Asian hornet population from each nest was immobilized with cold carbon dioxide. Thereafter, the nests were dissected to remove the larvae, which were analyzed for moisture, ash, protein, crude fat, and dietary fiber contents following official food analysis procedures.4 The carbohydrate content was estimated by difference, and the energy value was calculated according to current regulations.5 HPLC-RI and GC-FID techniques were employed to characterize the individual profiles of free sugars and fatty acids, respectively.6 The study revealed that proteins and carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrients, followed by crude fat and dietary fiber. A 100 g portion of dehydrated larvae provided 446 kcal of energy. Furthermore, seven free sugars and twenty-five fatty acids were identified in the studied samples. Overall, these findings contribute to a more detailed characterization of the nutritional value of this invasive species' larvae. In future works, it will be important to perform other chemical analyses and promote the consumer's perception and attitude toward the inclusion of insects into sustainable contemporary diets.
Description
Keywords
Vespa velutina nigrithorax
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Pereira, Alexis; Dias, Maria Inês; Pereira, Carla; Pinto, M. Alice; Barros, Lillian; Pinela, José (2023). Proximate composition and free sugar and fatty acids profiles of Asian hornet larvae: An alternative food source?. In XXVIII Encontro Nacional da SPQ. Aveiro
Publisher
Sociedade Portuguesa de Química