Feng Ying, Chen Xiao-Ming, Zhao Min, He Zhao, Sun Long, Wang Cheng-Ye, Ding Wei-Feng
Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China.
Insect Sci. 2018 Apr;25(2):184-198. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.12449. Epub 2017 Apr 20.
The use of edible insects has a long history in China, where they have been consumed for more than 2000 years. In general, the level of acceptance is high for the consumption of insects in China. Many studies on edible insects have been conducted in the last 20 years, and the scope of the research includes the culture of entomophagy and the identification, nutritional value, farming and breeding of edible insects, in addition to food production and safety. Currently, 324 species of insects from 11 orders are documented that are either edible or associated with entomophagy in China, which include the common edible species, some less commonly consumed species and some medicinal insects. However, only approximately 10 to 20 types of insects are regularly consumed. The nutritional values for 174 species are available in China, including edible, feed and medicinal species. Although the nutritional values vary among species, all the insects examined contain protein, fat, vitamins and minerals at levels that meet human nutritional requirements. Edible insects were, and continue to be, consumed by different ethnic groups in many parts of China. People directly consume insects or food products made from insects. The processing of products from insect protein powder, oil and chitin, and the development of healthcare foods has been studied in China. People also consume insects indirectly by eating livestock that were fed insects, which may be a more acceptable pathway to use insects in human diets. Although limited, the data on the food safety of insects indicate that insects are safe for food or feed. Incidences of allergic reactions after consuming silkworm pupae, cicadas and crickets have been reported in China. Insect farming is a unique breeding industry in rural China and is a source of income for local people. Insects are reared and bred for human food, medicine and animal feed using two approaches in China: the insects are either fully domesticated and reared completely in captivity or are partially raised in captivity, and the insect habitat is manipulated to increase production. Depending on the type of relationship the insect has with humans, plants and the environment, different farming strategies are used. The social and scientific communities must work together to promote the use of insects as food and feed.
食用昆虫在中国有着悠久的历史，人们食用昆虫已有2000多年。总体而言，中国对食用昆虫的接受程度较高。在过去20年里，人们对食用昆虫进行了许多研究，研究范围包括食虫文化、食用昆虫的鉴定、营养价值、养殖以及食品生产与安全等。目前，中国记录了来自11个目的324种昆虫，它们可食用或与食虫文化相关，其中包括常见的食用种类、一些不太常食用的种类以及一些药用昆虫。然而，经常食用的昆虫种类只有大约10到20种。中国有174种昆虫的营养价值数据，包括食用、饲料和药用种类。尽管不同种类昆虫的营养价值有所差异，但所有检测的昆虫都含有蛋白质、脂肪、维生素和矿物质，其含量能满足人体营养需求。在中国许多地区，不同民族过去和现在都有食用昆虫的习惯。人们直接食用昆虫或用昆虫制作的食品。中国还研究了昆虫蛋白粉、昆虫油和几丁质产品的加工以及保健食品的开发。人们也通过食用以昆虫为饲料的家畜间接食用昆虫，这可能是在人类饮食中使用昆虫更易接受的途径。尽管关于昆虫食品安全的数据有限，但表明昆虫作为食品或饲料是安全的。中国曾报告过食用蚕蛹、蝉和蟋蟀后出现过敏反应的病例。昆虫养殖是中国农村一项独特的养殖业，是当地居民的收入来源之一。在中国，人们采用两种方法养殖昆虫用于人类食品、医药和动物饲料：昆虫要么完全驯化并在圈养环境中饲养，要么部分在圈养环境中饲养，并通过控制昆虫栖息地来提高产量。根据昆虫与人类、植物和环境的关系类型，采用不同的养殖策略。社会和科学界必须共同努力，推动昆虫作为食品和饲料的利用。
