Consumers' Perspectives on Eggs from Insect-Fed Hens: A UK Focus Group Study

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Consumer Behavior
• Food Science

Background:

• Growing interest in insects as sustainable feed for laying hens, offering nutritional, environmental, and animal welfare advantages over traditional soybean meal.
• Limited research exists on consumer acceptance of eggs from insect-fed hens, despite studies on other insect-based foods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore consumer attitudes and perceptions regarding eggs from insect-fed hens.
• To identify factors influencing consumers' intentions to consume and purchase these eggs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing three focus group discussions.
• Involved 19 participants from the United Kingdom.

Main Results:

• Positive attitudes were influenced by environmental, animal welfare, and food waste reduction benefits of insect feeding.
• Key barriers included price concerns and consumer disgust towards insects as feed.
• Enhanced welfare labeling and clear communication of benefits emerged as significant purchase drivers.

Conclusions:

• Educating consumers about the advantages of insect-based hen feed is crucial for increasing acceptance and purchase intent.
• This research contributes to the nascent field of insect-fed foodstuffs and highlights areas for future investigation.